On the condo project that local entrepreneur Reed Bousada is trying to develop behind St. Paul\u2019s Anglican Church, Tim Wiebe, minister for church, clarified that the church\u2019s part in the project is essentially over with. The church signed a purchase and sales agreement with Bousada, with the goal of selling him a piece of its land for $1 million. With the sale, Wiebe said the ministry hopes to continue to carry out its work in the community and that the development project is in Bousada\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll along St. Paul Road, all of that land once belonged to the church. It was called the \u2018gleeb.\u2019 That was land that was actually donated by Kernel Paul Holland Knowlton (founder of the village) for the upkeep of the church. The land was supposed to be used in order for the church to have an income,\u201d explained Wiebe. \u201cSo, it goes way back in history. We have, in the past, used some of our land to support the church.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wiebe said that St. Paul\u2019s was inspired by a project taken on by another church in Toronto that bought pieces of land to build affordable housing to rent out to people while maintaining ownership.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was our initial project that we thought of, but that just didn\u2019t work in Quebec. What we discovered is that only a small portion of the land that we seek to sell is actually buildable,\u201d he said. \u201cWe then worked with a fellow by the name of Phil O\u2019Brien who had lots of ideas; he was very helpful. Taking some of his ideas, really it was a conversation between Skip Eaman (treasurer for St. Paul\u2019s board of management) and Reed Bousada just to kind of offhand \u2018would you be interested in doing something?\u2019<\/p>\n
Recognizing that community members have concerns over the project and that some don\u2019t want to see it happen at all, Wiebe said that from his perspective Bousada has been nothing but honest and open to their questions.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, the interesting thing is that Reed has said from the beginning that he would walk away from the project if the community came up with the amount that he is willing to pay St. Paul\u2019s for the property,\u201d explained Wiebe. \u201cThe folks that we have spoken with or heard from said \u2018oh, we got money and we can do that,\u2019 but there\u2019s never been a conversation where anything remotely positive has come forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wiebe emphasized that an important part of the project is that it is meant to benefit the local community.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Reed has said constantly that he wants to build a high-quality project that contributes to the beauty and that contributes to the community. The idea partly behind the project is that the people who would be moving in, would be people who are presently a part of the community,\u201d said Wiebe.<\/p>\n
Wiebe clarified that the construction and the financing of the construction falls on Bousada.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the important things that people need to know is that we signed a contract, a purchase and sales agreement contract, with Mr. Bousada,\u201d he explained. \u201cThe extent of our involvement is the sale of the property. We\u2019ve accepted a million dollars for the property. When we receive that money, some of that can go towards capital projects. The rest will go into what is called the \u201cAnglican Balanced Fund.\u201d That money is guaranteed to the church at 4 per cent per year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whatever Bousada chooses to do as a project, a new plan is expected to be presented to the town this summer; Wiebe said he has put in a lot of effort to help support the church.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe really wants to see the church\u2019s work continue. He loves Knowlton, he has said that many times,\u201d said Wiebe.<\/p>\n