Sarnia's mayor thinks it's premature to sell the Kinsmen Centre.
A staff recommendation to declare the property at 656 Lakeshore Rd. surplus and proceed with its sale will be considered by city council Monday.
Mike Bradley says the Kinsmen club's desire to work with the city to improve the building should be explored first.
"Out of respect for the Kinsmen Club that has done so much for the city over the years and continues to do so with the Christmas parade, Canada Day parade and all of the other activities that they're involved in, we owe them that. To sit down and look at the feasibility of restoring and keeping the building in the city family," he says.
The 8,600 sq ft former Oakwood elementary school was built in the 1950s and sits on two acres, by Baxter Park, near Colborne Rd.
City staff relocated the building's user-groups and tenants and closed the building because of mould and related safety concerns.
Repairs are estimated as high as $240,000.
The revamping of the center is proposed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Kinsmen in Canada and the 90th anniversary of the local club in four years.
A $50,000 to $55,000 loan to be paid back over several years is suggested similar to what was done for the city's original renovation in 1981.
