Buyer can be found for Richmond Hill, says St. John's councillor
City councilor Dave Lane says one of the oldest properties in St. John's still has a fighting chance.
Lane told the St. John's Morning Show on Thursday that he's confident a buyer can be found for the historic Richmond Hill site, built as a merchant house in 1848.
"We have a heritage advisory community that can spread its wings, its network," he said in an interview. "There's people out there who would love our dollar, and would say — 'I would love to restore this property.'"
The Richmond Hill house was given a stay of execution on Tuesday through an agreement between the city and the property owners, the Wrightland Development Corporation.
There's people out there who would love our dollar, and would say — 'I would love to restore this property.'- Dave Lane
The Corporation has a year to sell the property, at a pre-determined price, to someone who will agree to restore it.
If no buyers come forward, the developers have the option to demolish the property.
Richmond Hill has been mired in controversy for years.
St. John's had approved Wrightlands' proposal for a new housing development on the surrounding lands, on the condition that Wrightland protect the home.
But in 2013, the owners asked City Hall for permission to demolish the home, arguing it was damaged so extensively nothing of value could be retained.
That application was withdrawn before the city voted.
Lessons Learned
Lane says the city council has learned from recent heritage fiascos.
"(We needed) to get a new rule that says if we give you an allowance to restore a property — if you want it developed, restore the property first," he said. "That now exists."
Lane added the city is working on new regulations that will extend the process for potential heritage demolitions, and give the city a bigger role.
"Council and city staff can go through and really assess the building. Take these two years to see, perhaps, if there's a buyer.," he said.
"But also we will be allowed to go in and take photos, and things like that, which we haven't been able to do with some of the properties."
With files from the St. John's Morning Show