The hot real estate market apparently extends to airstrips as region of Queens looks to offload the South Shore Regional Airport.
The region is holding a public meeting Tuesday proposing to sell the airport to the Nova Scotia Drag Racing Association (NSDRA) for $50,000. Some are concerned that amount is too far below market value after a deal to sell the airport to a private developer for $565,000 fell through in October.
The municipal government act does allow the Region to sell the property to a non-profit organization for less than fair-market value. The South Shore flying club has offered the region $100,000 to purchase the property and there are reports at least two other parties are interested and are offering to pay more.
The drag racers and the flying club have shared use of the airport for years and each say if their offer is accepted would continue that arrangement through a long-term lease. In an open letter published to social media the drag racers say since they began in 2004, they've paid over $161,000 in lease fees to the region and invested $190,000 in improvements to the property.
The NSDRA says they've made other contributions to North Queens including $60,000 to local Volunteer Fire departments for their services, donating $13,000 to Christmas Daddies, and supporting dozens of local businesses buying supplies for their events. The association says by the Region's own estimates the NSDRA’s activities have contributed more than $4M in tourism to the area.
The flying club says they too, have made several upgrades at no cost to the municipality. Club president Peter Gow made a presentation to council at the November 8 meeting where he says the club was shocked to learn council had decided to sell the airport to the NSDRA without giving them an opportunity to bid.
Gow told council he’s concerned that despite assurances if the club is sold to the drag racers it will no longer operate as an airport due to the high cost of insuring the airplane fueling system and the NSDRA’s intention to increase the number of racers, cutting down on the time available for the flying club to use the airstrip.
Council will hear from the public before voting on whether to sell to the NSDRA during the regular council meeting.
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