BARRY’S BAY – The Valley Manor long-term care facility is the proud new owner of the former Sherwood Public School building.
Madawaska Valley Township purchased the property in 2016, when the vacant property was deemed surplus by the Renfrew County District School Board. Students from Sherwood were relocated into the newly renovated Madawaska Valley District High School, which now accommodates children from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
The township knew of the challenges that the manor is facing with its current building located on Mintha Street, and that it would be more cost-effective for the manor to rebuild rather than renovate. When Sherwood went up for sale, the township purchased the property for $150,000. Then, the township deemed the property surplus, and the manor put in an offer.
At the January 16 council meeting, council passed a bylaw, agreeing to sell the property to the manor. According to Mayor Kim Love, the property was sold for $160,000 to recoup the expenditures of the property.
After the first and second reading of the bylaw, resident Glenn Guest asked to speak. He was concerned about the low assessment of the building, and wondered if the township could have made more money on the sale.
He said he has a property within 100 yards of the former school, and his property, located on a half-acre lot, is valued at $154,000.
Get your January 18, 2017 edition of The Valley Gazette to read the full article.