Offer to buy Barrington VIC withdrawn
An offer from the Oceanview Christian Academy (OCA) to purchase the former Visitor Information Centre (VIC) in the Municipality of Barrington has been withdrawn.
The private non-profit school, which is currently renting the building, had offered the municipality $20,000 to purchase the property, which is valued at $220,000.
Through a process under the Municipal Government Act, which includes a public hearing, the municipality is permitted to sell property below market value to a nonprofit organization that the municipality considers beneficial to the municipality.
The public hearing, which was held on March 28, drew questions and concerns from the community. The potential sale of municipal property at 10 percent of its market value was one concern raised. Some people also pointed to the academy's Statement of Faith, saying they were concerned that a portion of the statement referring to God's intention for marriage and gender pushed anti-LGBTQ beliefs and, some felt, did not promote inclusion within society.
At a special council meeting on April 11, Barrington Municipal Council accepted a letter from OCA that it was withdrawing its purchase offer.
No decisions were made in regard to next steps for the property.
During discussions at a committee of the whole meeting, held the same night, municipal CAO Chris Frotten said with the offer to purchase withdrawn it leaves the municipality with other options they could pursue.
“You could entertain other offers you have received. You could issue an RFP that would publish out to the public and attach certain conditions to the sale or you could list the property if you still want to sell the property,” Frotten said.
“I don't think we should jump to any conclusions by any means,” said Deputy Warden Jody Crook.
“A logical solution is to continue the rental agreement until the non-profit has a time to regroup… when the agreement
is expired or is renewed or discontinued by either party, I think that would be the time to address to put it up for tender or sale," he said. "I think it's too early to determine that, because we don't know the intentions of the renter at this point in time.”
The potential sale of the VIC will be discussed again at an upcoming committee of the whole meeting.
Coun. George El Jakl commented that he had received a lot of emails, lots of information and a lot of people were interested in the property.
“I feel if the VIC property goes up for sale again, or any other municipal property or land, I recommend we open it up to all non-profit organizations or businesses and make it public knowledge so everyone is aware of the municipal sale,” added Coun. Andrea Mood-Nickerson.
When council decided to cease operations and sell the VIC in 2020, council passed a motion to sell the property by way of an RFP on Aug. 24. That motion was rescinded at the next council meeting on Sept. 28, with council instead instructing the CAO to proceed with the sale of the VIC property to Oceanview Christian Academy, following the process prescribed in the Municipal Government Act.
OCA's lease for the building expires in June at the end of the school year.