Huntsville’s CNR Train Station is officially off of taxpayer’s shoulders. Council approved the sale of the building for $2.00 to a private group made up of John Pantaleo, Adam Caswell and Scott Richardson last night.
Town staff says the trio will create a community centre, while working with the Huntsville Train Station Society to keep the station’s history alive. They will take over the town’s lease with the Suzuki School of Music, and install a professional kitchen for teaching, catering, and private events. On top of that, the group has said it will deal with the current mould issues, and install a new HVAC system.
There has been some debate about what to do with the train station, as council has heard from community members who think its important to maintain the station’s historical value.
However, most of council agreed the sale is a way to get the burden off of taxpayer’s shoulders. Last year, almost $160,000 was spent to repair the storm and sanitary sewers. Another $150,000 is needed to fix the mould and asbestos, as well as upgrade the HVAC system.
The station was built in 1924, and is a designated historical site. That means the new owners will have to follow the guidelines for historic places in Canada, like preserving the exterior look and promoting its historical value.
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