Amherstburg reverses decision to buy Bellevue House for $1.1M
Councillors agreed Monday to purchase the historic house after previously rejecting the idea
After rejecting a proposal to buy Bellevue House, Amherstburg town council decided to take over the historic mansion.
Councillors agreed Monday to purchase the house for $1.1 million, which will be paid over the next five years.
Bellevue House dates back to 1816 and is on the National Trust for Canada's top 10 list of endangered places.
The property went back on the market in May when it was listed for nearly $2 million.
Robert Honor has been working with other citizens for the past eight years, trying to preserve the property by encouraging a public body to buy it.
"The house is historically so significant that it needs to be in some kind of responsible ownership...that is dedicated towards preserving the heritage and architectural value of the building," he said.
Council recently decided to buy another property, the old Duffy's Tavern, located on the riverfront. That property is expected to be redeveloped into a public space.