An iconic piece of St. John’s history and city skyline has sold for more than $ 3 million to three Catholic groups hoping to save the building from developers.
“The feeling we have is relief, euphoria and excitement for the future,” Rob Blackie, a member of the joint committee that bid on the historic property, told CBC News on Tuesday morning.
The basilica complex is one of about two dozen properties owned by the St. John’s Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation that are being sold to help pay off millions of victims of Christian Brotherhood sexual abuse at the former Mount Cashel Orphanage.
In May, the three Catholic groups – Heritage of the Basilica Foundation, St. Bonaventure and the St. Bonn Forum said they were taking steps to “maintain and protect a vital part of our history, our culture and our city.”
Now Blackie said their offer was accepted by the accounting firm that oversees the sale of property to the Catholic Church in the St. John area.
Blackie said the commission’s offer was “north of $ 3 million” for the basilica, the private school at St. Bonaventure College and the St. Bon’s Forum Slide.
They received written notice Monday from accounting firm Ernst & Young that they had won the tender, and the news was passed on to more than 300 students and more than 50 employees at St. Petersburg. Bon’s on Tuesday morning.
Blackie said committee members were “incredibly grateful and humble” with the support of donors across Canada.
“This is incredibly good news,” he said.
A spokesman for Ernst & Young, a court-appointed sales observer, said the information would be revealed later this week about the bidding process. The employee did not comment on the sale.
The court has yet to approve the winning bid.
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