Having sold only one of its larger surplus properties, Woolwich is now starting to see some movement on its real estate listings. The township has two offers on the old Woolwich Township hall in Conestogo and expression of intent on the former administration building on Arthur Street in Elmira.
If the two properties move, they’ll join the former Floradale fire hall on Ruggles Road, which sold for $100,000 in the spring.
A decommissioned gravel pit in Maryhill – located between 1220 and 1230 Maryhill Rd. – is set to go up for auction.
The remaining building, the Elmira pool on Ernst Street, has seen some tire-kickers, but no offers to date.
The sites were listed with a realtor after a tendering process failed to attract any bids.
In a report to councillors this week, director of recreation and facilities Larry Devitt said he’s “happy with the numbers” on the bid for the Conestogo property, a heritage-designated building at 1924 Sawmill Rd.
Along with the larger sites, the township has been selling off a few small pieces of land, mostly old road allowances of interest to adjacent property owners. One property, on Northfield Drive, at Balsam Grove Road, valued at $3,000 an acre has already sold. Others are in the works, including a small piece of land on Princess Street West, adjacent to St. Jacobs Public School, and another small piece at Klinck Street and University Avenue, adjacent to Elmira District Secondary School. The Waterloo Region District School Board will buy the land for $2, plus surveying and legal costs. Lawyers are working on the final details of the school board deal, said Devitt.
Money from the sale of all of the properties is earmarked for the township’s recently completed major capital building program, which saw some $35 million used for the Woolwich Memorial Centre, a new administration building and a new fire station in Floradale, among others.
