Sale of decrepit Christ-Roi building falls through

It appears the town won't be selling the aging Christ-Roi building anytime soon.

The one and only offer the town had on the aging building has fallen through, said CAO Normand Beaulieu.

At a meeting in December, council passed a resolution to put the Christ-Roi building for sale by public call for tenders at the minimum price of $350,000, respecting the July 2009 request for proposal document. The deadline for proposals was 3 p.m. on March 3.

Council examined the one offer it received during an in-camera meeting in April. Although the details of the offer were not being released at that time, Beaulieu did confirm that the offer corresponded well with the vision the town has for the property, which includes the deteriorating building and 10 acres of waterfront property.

Council has spent a lot of time and energy debating the future of the 70-year-old building, which was once an elementary school. A deal to sell the property to private interests fell through in the spring of 2007.

Since that time, the municipality has been contemplating whether or not to sell or demolish the building, which has fallen into such a state of disrepair that council considers it "a dangerous public liability."

The town has stated that the building requires major repairs and the municipality no longer has the funds to invest in the building. The building is not recognized for its heritage value.

In the summer of 2009, council did consider the possibility of moving the town hall to the Christ-Roi building, which is located on Main Street.

The suggestion was put forward by La Corporation de la bordure riveraine de Hawkesbury, but council decided to proceed with the sale of the building, which has an estimated value of $682,000.