Greater Sudbury defers final decision on Market Square
'This whole deal makes me extremely uncomfortable,' councillor says
CBC News
Posted: Oct 13, 2011 10:09 AM ET
Last Updated: Oct 13, 2011 10:05 AM ET
Market Square is a seasonal farmers' market. It's location is considered an ideal spot for Laurentian University's new school of architecture. (Jan Lakes)
Sudbury city council has agreed to sell Market Square to Laurentian University for the new architecture school, but the deal is not yet done.
Council decided at an Oct. 12 meeting to approve the sale in principle — but put off a final decision until Nov. 9.
Some councilors were okay with putting off the decision, but others were eager, such as Ward 7 Coun. Dave Kilgour, to approve the sale in principle.
"Don't sit here tonight and just pass off an opportunity we may never see again,” he said.
However, Kilgour added delaying until Nov. 9 will give councillors a chance to "get off their rear ends" and work to find a solution for the downtown farmer's market.
Ward 10 Coun. Frances Caldarelli said she was uneasy about signing off on Laurentian's offer of "up to" $3 million for the property.
"This whole deal makes me extremely uncomfortable,” she said.
“I don't think we have enough information, I think everything is very vague."
Delay won't hold up opening of archtecture school
Laurentian University president Dominic Giroux said the delay won't upset plans to open the architecture school in 2013.
"Obviously the sooner we can get final decision the better, but I think there was a clear direction given,” he said.
Giroux is confident the university and city can agree on a number.
The city expects to complete an appraisal of how much the Market site is worth in the next few weeks.
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