Half a year after a major dust-up over downtown parking, city councillors will learn Monday that Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corp. took over a city-owned parking lot without a signed lease or other formal arrangement allowing its staff to park there.
On Monday, Melanie Borowicz-Sibenik, assistant city solicitor and senior litigation counsel, will tell city council that Housing Corp. (SSMHC) believed it acquired rights to use the lot next to the Phở Max restaurant at 525 Albert St. East in 2020, when SSMHC bought 540 Albert across the street.
But the lease signed by Mike Nadeau, SSMHC’s chief administrative officer, and then-mayor Christian Provenzano, referred only to another nearby city parking lot at 139 Brock St.
It contained no reference to 525 Albert.
"SSMHC advises they always understood 525 Albert St. East was included in the parking lease," Borowicz-Sibenik says in a report prepared for Monday's council meeting.
"SSMHC further advises that they have operated as though it was part of the arrangement, and have parked at that location, put signage at that location, and occupied the property.
"SSMHC has requested that 525 Albert St. East be formally added to the parking under the same terms and conditions to effect what has been in practice since the agreement was in place," Borowicz-Sibenik said.
She'll ask councillors to approve an amended lease agreement that adds the 525 Albert parking lot.
Her report to council didn't disclose how the misunderstanding about the Albert Street property occurred or how it was discovered.
SSMHC will get to use the two parking lots for the extremely favourable original price of $1 a year.
A Google Street View image taken of the lot three months ago shows 13 cars parked at the time, with room for more.
"The parking lot lands shall be used by the tenant as a parking lot for its employees, elected officials, officers, agents and contractors, and for those purposes ancillary to parking lot use, but for no other purposes," the new draft lease says.
"No buildings or structures shall be erected on the parking lot lands."
The amended agreement will be in effect until Jan. 19, 2040, with an option for SSMHC to renew the deal for an additional 10 years subject to successful negotiations with the city.
Unless cancelled because of inclement weather, Monday's city council meeting will be live-streamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.