Hampton may purchase landmark courthouse

The Town of Hampton has reversed its decision on whether to buy its landmark provincial courthouse.

The 140-year-old building has been vacant since court services moved into the new Law Courts building in Saint John in June.

Earlier this year, the town said it was not in a position to take on the old courthouse, but it has now sent a letter of interest to the provincial government about purchasing the building.

"Residents have expressed concern that they certainly don't want to see it come down," said Deputy Mayor Gary Crossman.

"At the same time they don't really want to pay for it," he said.

The appraised market value of $148,000 is not the biggest issue, it's the upkeep, said Crossman. Heating alone, for example, can cost up to $30,000 a year.

The structure also needs extensive renovations, according to Hampton lawyer David Lutz, who bought and renovated the old post office across the road, on Main Street.

Lutz had previously said if no one bought the courthouse, it would have to be torn down.

Plans for building unclear

The Town doesn't have any plans for the building yet, said Crossman. But making it more energy efficient would go a long way in attracting a potential tenant, he said.

The King's County Museum has been using part of the building for storage since January and would like to continue to do so, said director Christine White.

"We'd be hard-pressed to find a similar space to store the artifacts," she said.

The museum currently stores about  2,000 of its 15,000 items in the former vault of the old courthouse, including an apple cider press from the early 1900s and a couple of church organs.

White fears if the building falls into private hands she'll have to find a new storage space.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claude Williams said the department has met with town officials to discuss the Hampton courthouse property.

The Hampton courthouse, which the provincial government has declared as surplus, is not on the market yet. The provincial government routinely offers surplus properties to municipalities before posting them for public tender.

Sydney Street courthouse to be sold

Meanwhile, the disposal of the historic Sydney Street courthouse in Saint John is in the early stages, according to Department of Transportation and Infrastructure officials.

There is no date yet for selling the property, they stated in an email.

The building has been closed to tours since being vacated by the Department of Justice.

The courthouse was constructed between 1824 and 1829 and was one of the few buildings to survive the Great Fire of 1877.

The neoclassically-inspired building features sandstone blocks shipped from England and a solid stone, freestanding spiral staircase.

Each of the 49 steps was cut from a solid block of stone and fitted without a central supporting pillar.