After being vacant for years, Elliot Lake’s former Lake Theatre movie building could soon come up for sale.
Michael Humble, the city’s director of corporate services, presented council’s committee of the whole at its meeting November 6 with requirements needed to put the vacant building at 14-16 Elizabeth Walk on the market.
Humble said the city purchased the building in September last year for $1 from its previous owner due to unpaid taxes.
“At that time, there were some significant concerns of property maintenance issues that were affecting adjacent businesses, and due to insolvency of the current owners it would be problematic to enforce property standards orders,” he said in a report to the committee.
When the city purchased the property, it needed to spend about $14,000 to secure crumbling brick on the exterior and do temporary roof and chimney repairs.
Heavy rain in October revealed extensive roof repair was needed to protect the building and adjacent businesses from damage. Humble said the leaky roof had resulted in some damage to neighbouring businesses, but did not say how much damage occurred.
Subsequently, roofing company Sempler Gooder Northern Limited was contracted to replace the roof at a cost of about $34,800. The work is expected to take place soon, Humble said.
Council approved a capital budget of $65,000 to carry out repairs and has spent $49,500.
The committee approved the staff report with a further recommendation to have council declare the building as surplus and,” direct staff to proceed with an opinion of value from a qualified realtor,” to determine how much it could sell for.
The issue is expected to be dealt with by council at its November 13 regular meeting.