The Town of Sidney has approved an agreement in principle for developers to purchase the old Fire Hall property located downtown.
Developers Fraser McColl and Dan Robbins will purchase the property at 9837 Third Street and 2477 Sidney Avenue and the adjoining parking lot at 9821 Third Street for $9 million.
McColl and Robbins were considered alongside other developers that submitted proposals during a lengthy tender process.
Their proposal included plans for a mixed-use development on the property.
Of the purchase, Mayor Steve Price said in a release Wednesday, “The Town received several excellent submissions, and we thank everyone who took the time and effort to be a part of this process. In the end, Council feels we have made a well-researched, balanced choice that will be positive for the community while providing the intended funds required to offset the cost of building the new Community Safety Building.”
Higher aspirations for Fire Hall property
Sidney’s official community plan allows for development up to six storeys on the block where the old fire hall is located. As well, the Downtown Local Area Plan has identified the land as being suitable for “a higher and better” use.
Both factored into the relocation of the Fire Hall, which will find a new home at the Community Safety Building (CSB) currently under construction south of the Mary Winspear Centre, next to the Pat Bay Highway.
As Price stated, the purchase of the Fire Hall property will go towards offsetting the rising cost of the CSB’s construction, which was last estimated to have reached around $14 million, well beyond its initial $10-million budget.
Any development of the current fire hall site must still go through Sidney town council before any construction is to take place.
