Saint John may take over historic courthouse

Saint John politicians are investigating whether the city can take over an historic courthouse in the uptown.

The Sydney Street courthouse will stop operating next year when the new Provincial Court Building opens at Peel Plaza.

Coun. Chris Titus said he wants the city to look at taking ownership of the building to prevent it from deteriorating when it becomes vacant.

He said the historic courthouse could become a council chamber, a tourism centre or possibly a museum.

Titus has suggested there could be provincial or federal money to help renovate the national historic site.

City staff have been directed to evaluate the building's potential.

The courthouse was constructed between 1824 and 1829 and was one of the few buildings to survive the Great Fire of 1877.

The neoclassically-inspired building features sandstone blocks shipped from England and a solid stone, freestanding spiral staircase.

Each of the 49 steps was cut from a solid block of stone and fitted without a central supporting pillar.