40 buildings in priority Saint John neighbourhoods to change hands

Forty apartment houses in lower income areas of Saint John could soon change hands in a single transaction.

The buildings, containing more than 180 rentals units, belonged to Philip Huggard Properties Ltd. until that company slipped into receivership last fall.

The bankruptcy is being handled by receiver Grant Thornton Poirier Ltd.

When contacted, trustee in bankruptcyMatt Munro would not reveal the name of the potential purchaser but did say the sale should be completed over the next couple of weeks.

Many of the buildings are located in Saint John's old north end on Victoria St., Metcalf Street, Albert Streetand Main Street.

Most of the buildings on Peter Streetin the Waterloo Village area also belonged to Philip Huggard Properties.

At least six of the 40 buildings have recently been boarded up.

Philip Huggard spoke briefly with CBC News on Tuesday but did not wish to be interviewed.

He did say his company's financial issues worsened when he lost several tenants to new mixed-income apartment buildings on Leinster and Charlotte streets.

They came to collect the rent and said that Phillip had lost all his buildings.- Florence Willigar, tenant

In past interviews, Huggard described problems with tenants who damaged apartments and did not pay rent.

In 2011, he pushed for creation of a bad tenants' list that could be shared between city landlords.

Florence Willigar has lived in one of Huggard's Victoria Street apartments for 10 years.

She saidit was sad to hear he had lost the company.

"He treated us fairly, if something needed to be done, he done it," said Willigar.

"They came to collect the rent and said that Philip had lost all his buildings and they were now collecting."

Coun.John MacKenzie says he met with a representative of the purchasers last week but is not allowed to reveal who it is.

"This is a really good new story," MacKenzie told his fellow councillors Monday.

"These buildings are in very bad shape. A lot of them need to be torn down, this company has purchased them and has decided that they're going to rebuild them."

Council passed a motion Monday to schedule time at a future meeting for a presentation by the new owners.