MANITOWANING—The building that houses both the Canada Post Corporation and the Bank of Montreal offices at 115 Arthur Street in Manitowaning has now been declared surplus by Assiginack council and is being put up for sale by tender.
“For the post office/bank building we have had two engineers’ reports done on the building and we have looked at the cost of rebuilding the building to code, or a new building,” said Assiginack Mayor Brenda Reid at a council meeting last week. “The costs are astronomical for either option.”
“The costs are too high for either option,” agreed Councillor Jennifer Hooper. “I think it would be prudent on the part of any buyer to see the benefits of keeping the current tenants in the building. But I can’t see us as the township spending millions of dollars on the building.”
Mayor Reid explained that if the township fixed the building and remained as the landlord, the township would not make enough revenue to make it worthwhile. She also noted that the costs would be borne by the taxpayers and it would also mean subsidizing two very large corporations.
“I think we have done our due diligence and it is time to look at selling the building,” said Mayor Reid.
“Taxpayers can’t keep subsidizing the building,” said Councillor Janice Bowerman.
“I have to agree,” said Councillor Dwayne Elliott. “Either option would mean significant costs to the municipality going forward and I think this (declaring the building surplus and advertising it for sale) is a step in the right direction.”
At a council meeting in August, discussion regarding the feasibility report by EXP for 115 Arthur Street took place. The mayor advised members of the council of the two options contained within the plan and their costs. As per the report, to complete the renovations would cost $1,322,100 while a new build would cost $1,724,380. Mayor Reid also presented a third option, which is to put the building up for sale by tender.
At that August meeting council discussed different options including those proposed within the report; using underutilized municipal spaces to house the two tenants; maintaining the services and not displacing anyone; and putting the building up for sale by tender.
At that meeting staff also asked for council’s permission to advertise the building for sale as an option to explore, with council understanding that they do not have to take any offers the township receives. Council requested an appraisal first. Alton Hobbs, chief administrative officer, told The Expositor last week the property was appraised at $175,000.
In 2021 the township had an engineers’ report carried out on the building indicating at that time the cosmetic and structural work needed would cost $703,000.
The Expositor reached out to representatives of both Canada Post and the Bank of Montreal but did not hear back as of press time Monday.
