Historic Saint John church building up for sale again

The oldest church building in Saint John is back on the market, 18 months after it was last sold.

St. George's Anglican Church on the west side was first put up for sale in 2014 after the parish cited financial problems and a decline in its congregation.

Built in 1821, the church was originally listed for $134,000. Now after a short time with its new owners, the price tag for the building has swelled to $225,000.

According to realtor Don Ketchum, who is selling the building, the inflated price is in part the result of the investment the current owners made while turning the building into a restaurant.

The building is currently operating as the Old St. George Restaurant, andKetchumsaid the sale would include the restaurant equipment.

• St. George's Anglican Church building no longer heritage property
• Saint John's oldest church up for sale for $134,900

Despite its age and history, the building is no longer considered a heritage building. In August, the current owners lobbied city council to remove the heritage designation. Co-owner DavidMcCashionargued the heritage bylaws made insurance and repairs too costly to continue.

It was not the first time the city was asked to drop the heritage designation. In 2013, the church, which was within the King Street West Heritage Zone,applied to remove the rules to make renovations more affordable. While the city didn't budge then, it did this year.

Designation not always helpful

Ketchum said the lack of a heritage designation also contributed to the price increase.

"It's probably easier for someone to run a business because the restrictions attached to the heritage designation aren't there anymore" he said.

Even without the protection of heritage bylaws, Ketchum thinks the future buyers will respect the building's aesthetic.

"For anyone to make drastic changes to it, it doesn't make a lot of sense," he said. "They'll probably buy it because it has a lot of the character that it has, a lot of the history that it has."