Three offers made on former naval base

“We’re hoping one will be fruitful and bring this situation to an end,” says Anderson adding, “but there’s no guarantees.”

Anderson refused to discuss the particularities of the offers saying he did not want to get the hopes up of the community until the offer goes through.

SWSDA had planned to go forward with a request for proposals for the sale of the site but since offers have come in the decision was delayed.

The 65-hectare site includes one of two operational sound stages located in Nova Scotia and because of recent changes by government, Anderson hopes the feature will cinch the deal.

The Nova Scotia government decided to increase tax credits for parties interested in filming in the province and will issue a 60 per cent rebate on costs related to film production.

“That tax credit makes it attractive to come to Nova Scotia so now it gives us a head up on everybody,” says Anderson, “so now we are leading the pack again. We have a big sound stage, its modern, it meets every requirement and in our humble opinion it is the best east of Montreal.”

According to Warden Paulette Scott of the Municipality of Shelburne, one offer of a developer has a deposit down on the site with a deadline and the other two potential purchasers that include a production company connected with the movie industry are waiting in the wings.

“If he doesn’t meet his funding obligations by that deadline then the next person will step up in line,” says Warden Scott.

The property was assessed for $18-million two years ago but offers on the property that are being received have been under $5-million.

“For us it is not about the value of the property or about the assessment value of it,” says Warden Scott, “it is a facility that is not being used by anybody and the municipality is getting no tax revenue from that facility whatsoever, so sell it.”

Currently there is a $2-million debt on the property that has accumulated over seven years from capital and operating costs, a burden that SWSDA has absorbed and will be paid for once a sale is completed.

According to Warden Scott SWSDA will receive all of the money generated from a sale and says the municipality holds no ownership to the property.

“It is not ours to sell,” she says, “it belongs to SWSDA…they are making the decisions as to who will get it not the Municipality of Shelburne.”

But, Anderson stated the opposite saying that the municipality owned the site.

“SWSDA manages the property for the municipality but the beneficial owner of the property is the Municipality of Shelburne…even if they don’t want to agree to it sometimes.”

The property is registered under the Registry of Deeds in only SWSDA’s name.