Heritage building up for sale

BEDFORD
By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
One of Bedford's heritage buildings is destined to get a new lease on life.
Late last week, the municipality closed its search for Expressions of Interest proposals from organizations interested in purchasing the building known locally as The Teachery, located at 9 Spring St.
"This Expression of Interest was put out there to see what people want to do with it. We're looking for ideas," said Coun. Tim Outhit. "We want to see what ideas are out there in the community, what options are out there."
Described in the Expression of Interest document as a box-shaped, two-storey structure with a single, three-bay window and chimney, The Teachery is a municipally owned registered heritage property known as the Pryor House.
Local teachers
Built in 1892 by George Canfield for Oswald and Isabella Pryor, it was owned by the Pryor family until it was purchased by the Bedford Ratepayers Association in 1942. It became known as The Teachery because the association rented the property to local teachers.
The property title was transferred to the former Town of Bedford in 1980. The document states the building has been leased to community organizations for the past 30 years and included a residential unit on the second floor.
The Spring Street property was deemed surplus by HRM in 2008, and the building needs extensive repairs and upgrades to bring it up to code.
It now sits vacant. Outhit said the work needed to repair things like windows and the building's foundation would cost an estimated $200,000.
"It needs a lot of work. And it's not up to the size or the layout needed for a community centre," Outhit said. "The rooms are small, some areas are narrow. You'd want to do something interesting with it. Because it's a heritage building, it can't be torn down or removed."
Local sports associations and a hospice have already expressed an interest in purchasing the property.
"Hopefully a non-profit (group) will buy it and fix it up. It's zoned institutional and will remain institutional and will I'm sure be used for a wonderful cause," Outhit said. "As far as the area around it, the tennis court and playground, HRM will maintain ownership."
The municipality will also retain the right to buy back the building.
"The idea is it will stay in the community, remain a heritage building, and be used for non-profit organization purposes," Outhit said.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca