Renovations are about to get underway on Petrolia's historic Scotiabank building.
Town council approved $65,000 to undertake upgrades in its 2025 budget.
Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities Julie Bullock said the space will be divided and they would like to have the building occupied by May or early June.
"We just went to council for the contract to [be] awarded. So, the work is just about to start and we're putting up a dividing wall through the building to create a north half and a south half and then adding a main floor washroom to the building as well," she said.
An alarm system and new side entrance door are also planned.
Bullock said they've had some inquiries, but have yet to lock in a tenant.
"Currently, right now the building is designed probably a little bit more favourably for an office type space. But we would be willing to look at a retail type space as well too, depending on what that tenant was looking for," Bullock said.
She expects council will select a tenant next month.
"The goal for the north half -- the community side -- is to be a meeting space, but there will be some historical items on the walls and potentially some shelving or racks so we can have a rotation of different historical items to display," Bullock said.
The town purchased the former Scotiabank building on Petrolia Line last year.
Residents still have access to two Automated Banking Machines (ABM) in the entry vestibule.
The branch permanently closed in March of 2024.
