The City is in negotiations to purchase the famed collection of miniatures, with the hope of putting them on display in a setting similar to the former Cullen Gardens in Whitby.
"The opportunity to buy them presented itself and we didn't want to see them go somewhere else," said Oshawa Mayor John Gray. "When it was in Whitby, Cullen Gardens was the single biggest tourist draw in Durham Region. I'm very excited that we could have that draw here."
Oshawa Councillor Brian Nicholson said the purchase price is about $200,000, with a $50,000 business plan to follow, exploring profit potential and possible locations.
If the business plan looks viable, the City is budgeting $214,000 in 2008 for restoration of the miniatures and $2.4 million in 2009, to develop a site.
"It's a no-risk scenario at this point, because we have a purchaser lined up who will buy the miniatures if it doesn't work out for us," Coun. Nicholson said. "I think it's a good idea. We don't have a lot of tourist destinations here and this is an opportunity to bring in something with good name recognition."
Sources on council say the City has negotiated to keep the Cullen name attached to the miniatures, ensuring fans of the Whitby attraction will follow it to a new home in Oshawa.
While location is up in the air, councillors say Lakeview Park is a likely possibility.
Whitby's Cullen Gardens was one of Ontario's leading tourist attractions for 25 years, attracting over 200,000 visitors a year, in its last years of operation.
After it closed in early 2006, the Town of Whitby bought the 85-acre space and re-named it Cullen Central Park after a public naming contest was held last summer.
The miniature village includes over 180 buildings and accessories that reflect Canada's history.
The Main Street includes miniature buildings reflecting southern Ontario homes, churches, shops and landmarks.
The collection also features a fairground, Santa Claus parade, trains, cars and miniature versions of historic Oshawa buildings like Parkwood Estate and Henry House.
Founder Len Cullen kept the miniature village in the hopes of launching another tourist attraction called Coronation Station at the corner of Coronation Road and Hwy. 7 in Whitby.
But the 81-year-old died of cancer in August 2006. As per his wishes, the Cullen family sold off the land and gave the profits to charity.
"We are delighted my father's legacy will live on," said Mr. Cullen's eldest son, Peter in a press release. "His last wish was to see the miniature village relocated and turned into a successful tourist attraction and the City of Oshawa will make that wish come true."
Mr. Cullen couldn't be reached for further comment before presstime.
Surprisingly enough, officials in Whitby had only good things to say about the miniature village possibly finding a new home in Oshawa.
"Len held onto the miniatures in the hope to one day make them available to the public for their enjoyment," said Whitby Mayor Pat Perkins. "So I am happy to know that Oshawa will assist in making his dream come true."
"It doesn't bother me at all," added Whitby Councillor Shirley Scott. "If it's something that can make children happy and Oshawa can make good use of them -- great."
Whitby has never had any interest in purchasing the miniature village, explained the Town's Community and Marketing Director Peter LeBel.
"We were only interested in the property and main buildings. It's not a core competency for the Town to be in that kind of industry," he said.
"It wasn't our interest to run it is as Cullen Gardens. We were interested in acquiring the 85 acres for future public opportunities," Mr. LeBel explained.
Whitby was interested in the long-term potential of the site as a south link to the Heber Down Conservation Area and other possibilities, he said now being investigated in a Cullen Central Park Master Plan for the property.
The Cullen family hasn't approached Whitby about the possible sale of the miniatures either, Mr. LeBel said.
But Friends of Cullen Central Park President Erika Thimm said while she's happy the collection will stay in Durham, she wonders if Whitby couldn't have worked with local businesses to keep them.
"I think they missed an opportunity," she added.
Oshawa Councillor Louise Parkes, who helped broker the deal with the Cullen family, says it is important for the city to have numerous tourist draws.
"Now, we will have the botanical gardens, Parkwood, the General Motors Centre -- and Cullen Gardens. It's another anchor to bring people here."
The City had originally planned to issue a press release after the purchase was finalized but sent one out Friday after This Week contacted staff for comment.
"We're just in the final throes of negotiations right now," said Cindy Symons-Milroy, the City's director of economic development. "It's with the lawyers right now."
