The tourism centre at one of the most famous landmarks in Saint John has a new lease on life.
Earlier this year, the city decided it would be too expensive to restore the boarded-up building at the Reversing Falls, which includes a restaurant and observation deck, and voted to demolish it over the summer.
But the decision caused a backlash and local businessman Max Kotlowski’s last-minute offer to purchase the property for $1 million caught the city’s attention.
Kotlowski got the support he needed from city council last night.
“Four months working daily and thinking nightly, it was a non-stop process to turn this around from demolition to a new project,” says Kotlowski.
Under the deal, Saint John City Hall will lease the building to Kotlowski for 60 years. He'll pay property taxes and have full responsibility of the location.
“This is going to be the wow that the reversing falls deserves and thanks to Max it's going to be done,” says Bill Farren, Saint John city councillor.
Kotlowski says he expects to invest up to a million dollars in renovations.
Work on the building's exterior will begin over the winter.
“As the snow leaves the roof, then you'll see big, big changes on the outside,” says Kotlowski.
Kotlowski and his supporters hope that a new vision at the falls will bring new attention.
“I think the enthusiasm was always here, it's just the city never reinvested in the area, we don't even mow the grass in this area,” says Farren.
“As an outsider, as a tourist, I'd say please don't forget it, it's fascinating. I think it's a wonderful attraction,” says a falls visitor.
The plan is for the building to be open as early as next June.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore
