Falls Restaurant gets brief reprieve from demolition

The City of Saint John has stalled the demolition of the old Falls Restaurant at Reversing Fallswhile council considers a $1 million offer on the property.

On Monday, council voted to postpone the tender for demolition until it finishes conversations with Saint John businessmanMax Kotlowski, who is offering to buy and restore the buildingsparing it from the wrecking ball.

"We have not discussed details yet," Kotlowski told CBC News. "I spoke before committeeand presented my plan and a genuine cost estimate, based on an inspection by local contractors, for refurbishing The Falls."

The cost estimate for the work is $521,000,he said.

"I am told that this is anoutsidenumber andthat itdoesinclude taxes and a $65,000 contingency."

Kotlowski said the Falls building was inbetter condition than he expected, with improvements made to the building's roof, and sewer andelectricalsystems,within the last 10 years.

"The citykindly provided me an October 2007 report from [consultant]JacquesWhitford,which looked at all aspects of the building. The report indicated no foundation or structural issues," he said.

Two-week reprieve

Kotlowski's cost estimate alsoincludes a new kitchen and refrigeration, which have already been removed from the property.

Staff will now work with Kotlowski over the next two weeks to fully understand his proposal and see if the two parties can come to an agreement, he said.

"I heardthey voted to postpone demolition tenders, which is great news," he said.

In March, Saint John city councilquietly approved the demolition of the former Falls Restaurant and a tender was issued to have the building removed.

City managers told council on March 16 that the municipallyownedbuilding, which has fallen into disrepair in recent years,requiredbetween $700,000 and $800,000 in upgrades.

Councilhadasked city managers to fast-track the demolitionand set last Tuesday as the deadline for bids from contractors.

The restaurant and tourist information centre was built on top of a foundation that anchored an earlier bridge on the sharp rock face at the Reversing Falls. The building was subsequently expanded andremodeled.

It sits across from the formersite of the historic T.S. Simms & Co. Limited paint brush factory, which was demolished last year. That landmark structure was built in 1912.