Saint John's stance on Reversing Falls restaurant disputed

The man who offered to buy or lease the former restaurant and tourist centre at Reversing Falls says he doesn't believe the city's claims that the structure is in rough shape.

"I don't think it needs to be torn down," said Guy Barbara, who is president of the city's Howard Johnson Fort Howe Hotel.

"I've asked them for basically a report on any violations and they won't give it to me. And they won't let me go in there with my engineer to look it over to verify any problems."

Saint John council has approved a plan to demolish the iconic tourist centre this summer.

The move is a first step toward implementing an ambitious, $36-million makeover of the entire Reversing Falls area.

For a city that has no money, tearing down a building and waiting 10 years to replace it is foolishness.- Guy Barbara

The plan would see a multi-tiered look-out placed approximately where the former restaurant and tourist centre now stands.

But there is no timeline for the project, which will require funding from all three levels of government.

Barbara said it could be a long time before that money arrives.

"For a city that has no money, tearing down a building and waiting 10 years to replace it is foolishness," Barbara said.

"The analogy I use is if you need your car to go to work would you get rid of your car before having a replacement? That's exactly what they're doing."

Pat Woods, the city manager, says there's little point in renovating the existing building.

He estimates it would require a minimum of $750,000 in upgrades before any renovations can even take place.

"The future for that site is getting rid of that building," Woods told city councillorson Monday,

"That building has exhausted its useful life."