$11.5 million project to transform the centerpiece of Mulock Park into a gallery and public space
The City of Newmarket is preparing to breathe new life and design into the historic Mulock House.
The city announced that contractor Clifford Restoration Limited will begin restoring and revitalizing the home starting this month. As part of the ongoing Mulock Park project, the city plans to make the house the centerpiece of the new park and make it a space for the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said it was a place that had attracted community interest for generations.
“Now we are transforming a beautiful private home that once hosted social gatherings and even hosted members of royalty and the Prime Minister into a public space that everyone in the community can enjoy,” Taylor said in a news release.
The three-story 1871 home will be “carefully restored and renovated” and transformed into a new community space with a café, works from the Art Gallery of Ontario's Indigenous and Canadian collections and spaces such as a public lounge.
The city approved $11.5 million for restoration in 2023 as part of the park's overall budget, to be funded through grants, development fees and reserves.
+VG Architects, historic preservation specialists, worked to develop the new design, which “restores and renews the historic character elements,” the city said. The building will also be made accessible with an elevator, ramps and universal washrooms.
The city has already completed some work on the building, with roof repairs and electrical work expected to be completed in 2023.
Construction work on the Mulock Park project has been ongoing for several months. The city plans to open the park to the public in 2026.
For more information on project status, visit heynewmarket.ca/mulockpark.