The pigeons can start packing their bags, because the Pigeon Hotel behind the Scotiabank on 11th Avenue is going to be closed for good.
The City of North Battleford has found new owners for the buildings and adjoining land at 11th Avenue and 102nd Street. The Lloydminster-based owners plan to clean the buildings up, get rid of the pigeons and have them ready for occupation by the end of August.
The deal was approved in a resolution passed at Monday's council meeting.
The properties at 10103 and 10107 11th Avenue have considerable historical significance in the Battlefords, with one of them housing the city's former bus depot. The bus depot building itself dates back as far back as 1908, according to a recent story about the property written by Richard Hiebert for the News-Optimist.
However, both buildings have also been longstanding eyesores for residents. The properties are two vacant buildings standing adjacent to each other, including the now-infamous building known simply to many residents as the "Pigeon Hotel."
That building has been a civic embarrassment because of the number of birds that had populated the boarded-up building and made messes on nearby city streets. Ownership was taken over by the City in 1992 through tax enforcement measures following a fire on the main floor.
With the notable exception of pigeons and other birds and animals, the building has stood unoccupied for some 20 years.
The building shares a common wall with the adjacent and similarly rundown and pigeon-ridden property that had been owned by the late Jack Calvert.
The City had been seeking to acquire that property over the past five years so they could move forward on plans to clean up the property.
"For five years we've tried to negotiate something with the landowner and it's never come to fruition," noted Director of Business Development Denis Lavertu to reporters.
Lavertu noted as well that negotiations had been complicated by Calvert's passing.
Negotiations moved forward this year after a court-appointed administrator was named for the property. After about 12 to 18 months, a court-accepted offer from the estate was completed for the City to purchase that adjoining building plus some 250 feet of frontage also owned by the Calvert estate, for a price of $100,000 less tax adjustments for estate arrears.
The idea for the purchase was so the City could "control this area so we can instigate some change in downtown," said Lavertu.
The transfer of ownership took place Nov. 30. That put both properties, along with the shared wall, in City hands and allows them to move forward with next steps to clean it up.
Then there was interest expressed in the property by Lloydminster purchasers Chris Dobson and Larissa Wack.
Lavertu told reporters they had already bought a 101st Street property and were interested in more investments. He said the prospective new owner has an architectural background and saw potential in the 11th Avenue buildings, with the hope that new business tenants will set up there.
The new owners offered $75,000 to purchase the entire 11th Avenue and 102nd Street property and the adjoining parking.
The deal includes provisions that all clean up and maintenance of the portion at 10103 11th Avenue be completed by May 31, while cleanup and maintenance of the former Calvert-owned portion is to be completed by Aug. 31.
There are also provisions for the property to be inspected, and also for the cancellation of the agreement if the terms are not adhered to.
The closing date for the sale is Jan. 31. There is also a five-year tax exemption on the property for the repairs being proposed.
The City is satisfied with the deal given what the cost would have been for demolition, had a buyer not been available. Lavertu told reporters afterward that the estimated cost to demolish the buildings would have come to around $300,000.
He admitted demolition had been a real possibility had the buyer not come forward at the right time.
"This deal comes at a great time, when we can gain a land sale of $75,000 and avoid $300,000 in expense," said Lavertu.
He adds that after the five-years tax exemption runs its course, the property will likely be reassessed at a value greater than it is now because it will be worth more with the renovations.
Lavertu sees the deal as being "incredibly positive for downtown. I feel this will be a catalyst for redevelopment and really kick start that."
He also sees the deal as good for heritage preservation in the city.
"This allows us to do that in a great way."
The resolution to sell the properties to the new Lloydminster owners passed unanimously Monday, with the deal greeted with enthusiasm from members of council.
Among those welcoming the deal was Councillor Ryan Bater, who had campaigned for downtown revitalization and for action against the derelict properties there during the 2012 municipal election. He sees it as a big win for the city.
"There's a big smile on my face for good reason," said Bater, who had thought the property would be a candidate for demolition. "I never thought that actually having a business within 12 months from now would be a reality.
Councillor Trent Houk was similarly pleased with the outcome of the negotiations for the property. "This is great, it's a long time coming," he said.
