The fate of the former Tremont Hotel has finally been determined. Richard Lex has purchased the building from the Town of Collingwood, with plans to restore the former hotel.

Lex is well known for his outstanding work with restoring heritage properties. He had been outspoken to council regarding previous plans to tear down a portion of the Tremont building. When a local theatre group had introduced a plan to turn the property into a theatre, Collingwood Council had listened to a deputation from Richard Lex, representing the Collingwood Branch of Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, regarding the future of the building.

Mr. Lex was concerned that most of the former Tremont Hotel building could have been demolished as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding that was once in place between the Town and Theatre Collingwood. While stating that the Collingwood Branch of Architectural Conservancy of Ontario didn't have a problem with the town’s vision of constructing a new theatre at this location, Mr. Lex stated that maintaining only two walls of the historic structure would have destroyed the integrity of the building. “It is not a process in our view was in line with the process laid out for protecting the building under the Ontario Heritage Act” said Mr. Lex.

The sale of the property to Mr. Lex will allow the Town to keep parking places that will be needed as the new library building construction nears completion.

The Town of Collingwood purchased the Tremont property in 2005 for slightly more than one million dollars. At that time, the plan was to use the land for additional parking. Mr. Lex will restore the property to its original late 1800's look.