Saint John is looking to re-envision the site of the former 14 1/2 Café and Bar overlooking Reversing Falls.
City staff are seeking expressions of business interest (EOI) for the building and surrounding land on Fallsview Drive.
“The City has determined there is an opportunity to re-envision the Site and the nature of the operations thereon for operations commencing no earlier than 2023,” said the request for expressions of interest.
“As such, the City is seeking expressions of business interest to ascertain what options and ideas might exist in the community to make the highest and best use of the Site.”
In May, council voted to terminate the lease with Connections Bistro Inc., which had operated the café since 2018. No details were given as to why the lease was terminated.
The expression of interest documents say the building has been used as a restaurant/licensed café over the past 17 years but has been closed for the past two years.
A building condition assessment included with the EOI request indicated that the building is in “generally fair conditions” but requires “substantial work” in the short term due to water entry and damage to the east elevation, as well as the age and condition of the patio areas.
“The current infrastructure deficit is higher than would typically be anticipated for a facility such as this and the ongoing recapitalization requirements are considered to be extraordinary,” said the assessment.
“The building presents as a generally well operated and maintained facility, though with component deficiencies that will require repair and replacement for the continued operation of the building.”
The assessment, dated November 2021, said the facility needs $193,000 in capital investments over the next year and $221,000 in investments over the next five years.
Expressions of interest must be submitted prior to Aug. 3. More details can be found by clicking here.
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