NEW GLASGOW - This town's council is hoping to find a temporary means of putting a prettier face on its largest unsightly premises.
Last night, committee of council voted to get a cost analysis from town works staff on ways to both secure the Maritime building and improve its street level appearance.
The town had previously taken steps to shore up security on the ground level of the building and has removed some broken glass on other floors.
Longer-term prospects for 169 Provost Street are not clear.
Entrepreneur Cohen MacInnis purchased the 90-plus-year-old building in January 2008. One year later, an inspection by the fire marshal's office revealed a number of deficiencies, including issues dealing with emergency lighting, electrical, clutter, alarms and heating. Tenants were ordered out of the building in January 2009.
In a staff report to the committee, CAO Lisa MacDonald said the bank has not chosen to assume the building and instead is seeking to recover its investment from the owner, who's in the process of filing for bankruptcy.
"So the chance of us getting any action from the property owner is very slim," she said. "But it's obviously a detrimental site in our downtown and it's unsecure."
It's impossible to say for certain, but unless someone makes an offer on the Maritime Building, it will likely end up in a tax sale.
Cost analysis in the cards for Maritime building
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Comments
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- john
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:32:02
town of ng be careful a similar occurance happened in london ontario the bank donated the bldg to the city 10 million tax dollars later,do i have to say more
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- jack
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:32:02
come on tear down that eye soar.and the other old dump up at the corner. that has been boarded up for the last thirty five years.time for the mayor of new glasgow to get things going and get in touch with the bank and give them so much time to get there act together.the two eye soars,are not a pretty sight.before they fall down on people walking by them.then you will have a law suit on your hands.
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- Sambo
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:37
Dave, the cost of bringing the Maritime building up to code is more than the building is worth. Why do you think Mr. MacInnis bailed on the Maritime building? Why the bank doesn't want to touch it. Unfortunately the building has arrived at the end of her days and it's time to come down and make way for new development.
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- dave
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:35
don't tear them down,fix them up, they are heritage buildings aren't they? i am not sure.do somethin with them 2 half decent buildings
