Northern Breweries building back on the market

The landmark Northern Breweries building in Sudbury is back up for sale now that the man who boughtit about two years ago says he can't afford to fix up the century-old factory.

Druve Sookram's optimism has faded since he spoke with CBC News as he walked around the old brewery in November 2010.

He's spent hundreds of thousands of dollars renovatinga small office building before even touching the main building, which heplanned to turn into a depot for tour buses. So, he recently made the tough decision to put the Lorne Street landmark back up for sale.

'We needsomeone from the private sector to come to the table.' Coun. Joe Cimino

"It's a lot more demanding than I expected," Sookram said.

"It's at the point now [where] it needs someone with a little more resources than what we have. I hate to see a building like that sit and not be used to its potential."

But meeting that potential could take millions of dollars.

The building has sat empty since 2006, when the last incarnation of Northern Breweries went out of business.

The old brewery with its broken windows and pigeon nests has become a neighbourhood eyesore that has west end residents calling their city councillor Joe Cimino.

"[People ask] what can be done to beautify the area? What can be done with Northern Breweries? When is it being retrofitted? And I have to say I dont know," Cimino said.

"We need someone from the private sector to come to the table."

Cimino noted that a private developer will need vision and money. And while the developer can count on help from the city, financial support is likely not an option.

The old Northern Breweries building is listed for sale at $900,000.