Former funeral home slated for demolition

The former downtown home of Barton & Kiteley Funeral Home and Cremation Centre will be demolished to make room for a parking lot.

District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSMSSAB) agreed last night to buy the property at 165 Brock St. for $155,000.

Once the old funeral chapel has been removed, the property will provide added parking for staff and clients at the adjacent Ontario Works building at 540 Albert Street E. and the social housing and community child care offices across the street at 180 Brock.

"This property is strategically important to achieving this vision and to our ability to offer one-stop services," says Mike Nadeau, DSSMSSAB chief administrative officer.

The asking price was originally $275,000 but was recently reduced to $175,000.

The property's assessed value is $281,000.

Possession date is May 31.

Listing agent was Tom Feifel of Castle Realty.

In other news, Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corp. awarded a $4.5 million tender to Saldan General Contractors Inc. to add an eight-unit assisted living building and a nine-unit apartment building with community centre to an existing multi-unit residential building development at 676 Second Line West.

Ruscio General Contracting Ltd. unsuccessfully bid $5 million on that project. Praztek Construction (2124140 Ontario Inc.) bid $4.7 million.

Trimount Construction Group was awarded a $268,858 tender for surface works including grading, manhole/ catch basin rim adjustments, curbs, sidewalks, patio and pads, refuse enclosure, asphalt paving, signage and line painting, topsoil, sodding, planting beds and restoration of disturbed areas.