The wheels are in motion to demolish the former Sarnia General Hospital.
An agreement of purchase and sale for the Mitton St. site, from a group of five local businessmen, was unanimously approved by Sarnia council Monday.
GFIVE Inc. has plans for a multi-faceted development including residential and commercial components, and possible construction of a new Withdrawal Management Centre proposed by Bluewater Health.
"As I boil it all down, I believe that the city of Sarnia is really co-investing in the future of these two blocks," says Councillor Bev MacDougall.
She believes there are many benefits of having a local group purchase the property.
"Local investors are in a far better position, in my humble opinion, to be sensitive to the issues of our community, to have the history of the issues in our community and to understand the need for us as a community to deal with an urban blight, a security risk," says MacDougall.
Council decided the city will borrow externally to pay the buyer's $5.35-million toward remediation and demolition.
Councillor Dave Boushy and Mayor Mike Bradley opposed the financing move.
"All I will say to you about this is when you sip from this cup, you will sip from it again, and again," Bradley told council. "Debt is the easy option, versus making the tough decisions that aren't pleasant to keep control of costs."
The same five businessmen were involved in an initial development proposal in 2014 that did not proceed.
The derelict building has been sitting empty since it closed in late 2011.
