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Housed in a building established in the 1890's, which was the home of cabinet makers and furniture showrooms - Gilbert and Lighthall Marketplace is now offering an exciting selection of antiques, gifts and collectables. Gilbert & Lighthall Marketplace offers County residents and visitors alike a wide array of Fine Antique furniture, Eclectic antique smalls and collectibles, Quality crafts sourced from Canadian craftspeople including recycled fur throws, tea cosies, fabulous cutting boards from Cape Breton, pottery from Nova Scotia, carved shorebirds and decoys etc. You’ll discover a unique selection of carefully chosen gifts and home furnishings including Kilim carpets, runners and cushions, glassware, garden ornaments, pewter, scarves and jewelry and so much more. New stock is added continually to our beautiful store so drop buy for a visit, you are sure to be welcomed with a warm smile.
Gilbert & Lighthall Marketplace Gilbert & Lighthall Marketplace, 173 Main Street, Picton K0K 2T0
Tel: 613 476 3131 Fax : 613 476 9669 Email: info@gilbertandlighthall.com
Open daily year round 10-6 Monday to Saturday, 11-4 Sundays and Holidays. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.(Open 362 days a year)
The Gilbert & Lighthall Apartments Eleven luxurious one and two bedroom apartments comprise the residential component of the Gilbert and Lighthall Apartments, Picton’s premiere residential apartment address. You will feel welcome from the moment you step into the intimate lobby. Beautifully appointed throughout with elevator access to all floors the Gilbert and Lighthall apartments are a place you’ll be proud to call home. Today the entire building has been restored, the upper floors were added back, and the brick façade reflects it’s former glory. The building houses eleven residential apartments in the upper levels, and several commercial tenants. The main floor commercial tenants currently include Gilbert & Lighthall Marketplace an eclectic antique, gift and collectibles store, and Richard Davis, offering fine men and women’s clothing to the mix. Gilbert and Lighthall has been restored by MACV Holdings, a family owned business that is proudly committed to restoring Picton's past for the future. Visit us at www.macvholdings.com .
COMMON AREAS: • Attractive Bijou lobby with small seating area and mail boxes for all residents • Secure electronic access with inter phone • Two points of access – including weather protected handicapped ramp • Elevator to all residential floors • Garbage / recycle room in basement • Caretaker to maintain common areas and remove garbage • Parking included – Ample additional parking available steps from the front door • Additional storage lockers available in the basement for a nominal fee. • Outdoor porch for your enjoyment.
Gilbert & Lighthall Hombuilder's Award Commercial winner
Restoration of Gilbert and Lighthall building showcases a striking blend of past and present
by Margaret Haylock Capon The County Weekly News Constructed in 1891, the year of Sir John A. McDonald's death, the Gilbert and Lighthall building, originally, housed an undertaking parlour and cabinet makers' workshop. Now, more than a century later, it has a new lease on life.
One of the largest and most impressive buildings to form Picton's streetscape, for many years following its original owners' departure, it operated as a furniture showroom. Now co-owned by Alexandra Bake and her brothers, Christopher and Michael, it features an antiques and collectables shop on the ground floor, with five luxury apartments above it. Buddha Dog, home of the gourmet hotdog, occupies another retail space on ground floor.
The restoration of the Gilbert and Lighthall building by Loyalist Contractors showcases a striking blend of past and present. The luxury apartments on the upper floors feature ultra-modern kitchens, equipped with stainless steel refrigerators. However, the building's original pine floors have been preserved, in all of the apartments. All of the windows in the apartments were replaced, but care was taken to match the size of the originals. New signage to match the original company name that appeared on the building was chosen. The words "Gilbert and Lighthall Undertakers" remain painted on the side of the former furniture and casket showroom. A mural painted on the side of the building in 1994, by the late J. Miller, has been preserved by sculptor and mural painter Jack Skidd of Belleville. It was painted during the time when The County Furniture Gallery occupied the building. Alexandra Bake says she is extremely pleased with the success of her antiques and collectables shop in the Gilbert and Lighthall building. "There has been tremendous community support and there really is something for everyone." In addition to a successful new shop, Alexandra says she has five "very happy tenants", who reside in the luxury apartments above her store. Prior to renovations, the Gilbert and Lighthall building was being used as a furniture store with limited street frontage, a small entry door and four floors of retail. The owner and tenant moved to a more viable location on Main Street (the former Lipson's Department Store). Alexandra, owner of Olivia and Co. Fine Used Books, had discovered numerous references to and pictures of the Gilbert and Lighthall building in its former years and was intrigued by it. When an opportunity came to buy it, she approached her brothers and the family purchased it in 2004.
The Bakes' challenge was to renovate the building, incorporating and capturing the historical elements of its past, while upgrading current usage and bringing in line with a modern aesthetic. Renovations started in November, 2004 and the building re-opened six months later, on June 1, 2005. Its new look reflected the expertise of local architect Brian Clark and Loyalist Contractors. • The ground floor corner wall of the building was removed to create an entry alcove that significantly improves access to the building and gives it street presence. • An old side entryway that had been concealed was re-opened and became the entrance for the apartments.
• The original frieze was restored and duplicated to extend around the corner of the building, over the new side entrance and mural.
• The retail windows on Main Street were replaced to match the original full height windows and exterior paint colours were selected from from a heritage colour palate.
• Inside, a modern elevator was installed in the original shaft, for the convenience of the tenants. Wherever possible, various finishes were removed from the walls to expose the original brick, throughout the building.
• Removal of the existing floor coverings revealed the original pine hardwood floors, which were sanded and refinished throughout the building.
• In the design of apartments and retail space, consideration was given to maintaining the original ceiling heights of 10 to 14 feet, wherever possible. As a result, the apartments have a minimum of 9-foot and up to 13-foot ceiling heights in certain rooms. • Structural improvements were made to the floor joists and roof and the building was completely insulated to make it energy efficient. A fire in the late 1970s destroyed the upper stories of the west half of the Gilbert and Lighthall building. Extensive damage necessitated their removal, which compromised the overall visual appeal of the building.
The Bakes are now reconstructing this portion of the building (above the former Tru Value hardware store), once again employing the skills of Brian Clark and Loyalist Contractors. Alexandra says alternative energy, such as geothermal heating, has been considered for the building. "It is a long-term, sustainable energy source. We looked at solar heat but there is not enough light to do it on an ongoing basis. Geothermal will provide a stable energy source for future tenants (of the new apartments that will be constructed above the former hardware store). Alexandra says there will be a total of six new apartments, four one-bedroom units and two, two-bedroom units. " They will cater to the high end. There has been a tremendous amount of interest. The fact that they are high end has not been a deterrent." Negotiations are in progress with a potential commercial tenant for the ground floor space. "It's something Main Street doesn't have and it would be non-competitive. It would add to Picton's shopping experience," says Alexandra. "It's really nice to see the energy Main Street seems to have gathered with the renewed BIA (Business Improvement Association). We feel very strongly that continued investment on Main Street is a balancing thing," she says, referring to recent proposals for the development of additional retail outlets outside the downtown core. "On a personal note, two years ago I opened Olivia and Co. and it feels as if we are just on the tip of a really positive growth period. I am really excited by it," says Alexandra.
COMMON FEATURES IN ALL APARTMENTS
• All new construction, fire-rated, sound proofed, and spray foam insulated for higher than standard R value. • New windows • Hardwood/Engineered flooring throughout except kitchens and bathrooms which will have quality ceramic flooring • Separate shower and bathtub in each bathroom • Radiant heat flooring in bathrooms • En suite laundry facility including energy efficient front loading stacking washer/dryer • Fully fitted designer kitchen with energy star appliances including stove, fridge, dishwasher and microwave/hood vent • Attractive eat-in breakfast bar as per plan • Custom millwork fireplace surround and mantel with granite hearth • Under valance lighting in kitchen and pot lighting where appropriate • Centre capped outlets in living and dining rooms • Centre ceiling light in bedroom(s) • Quality pewter hardware throughout • 10’ ceilings in main living/dining rooms • Attractive designer doors throughout • Wiring for telephone and cable • Ample in-suite storage/cupboard space and additional large storage lockers available for a nominal fee • All wood trim will be painted white and all wall