2009

11 November 2009 Mayor Frustrated by Pace of CP Station Sale Abandoned Canadian Pacific Railway station at Owen Sound - Date/photographer unknown.     Owen Sound Ontario - Owen Sound's mayor says she is "frustrated" by how long it is taking the federal government to close a deal with the city for ownership of the abandoned Canadian Pacific Railway station.   "It's frustrating because I'd really like to see us get going on that," said Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners. "It just keeps dragging on."   The 1940s station, a nationally historic railroad site, was conditionally purchased by the city in January. A month later, an environmental consultant confirmed the federally owned property is clean enough for commercial use and the building is structurally sound.     Abandoned Canadian Pacific Railway station at Owen Sound - Date/photographer unknown.     With the conditions lifted, the city is now waiting on the feds to complete the transfer of Crown corporation land process, city manager Jim Harrold said. Both sides agreed to extend the closing deadline into December.   The final price the city paid for the east-harbour property will not be released until the deal is closed, city officials say.   The city has said it plans to offer the building for lease as a commercial business, with the intention of breathing new life into the city's harbourfront. It received funding from the province's Rural Economic Development program to help with the cost of renovating the building.   Monday's council package included a public request for developers or businesses interested in signing a long-term lease to operate out of the CP Rail building.   "The city will be stabilizing and renovating the building in the near future. In anticipation of this work, the city wants to take into account (the) nature of any potential commercial interest in the building. The city remains flexible and open to a range of uses and terms. Securing a long-term lease that protects and showcases the building, while attracting interest and activity to the waterfront, is the ultimate goal of the city," the request for expression of interest says.   Lovell Stanners said the delay in closing the deal has also postponed the process to seek proposals for the building. Until that moves forward, interest in the building from the private sector will remain unknown.   The building is protected under the Ontario Heritage Trust, which requires certain heritage characteristics be maintained by the city.   Denis Langlois.

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