Downtown tax-sale property eyed for use as temporary snow dump

Abbott Street property is one of six for which the city may authorize taking over title

Stock photo

Sault Ste. Marie city council will be asked Monday to authorize taking over title to six properties left over from last year's tax sale.

The six properties received no bids and the city has two years after a tax sale to vest any unsold properties.

Of eleven properties involved in the Oct. 18, 2023 tax sale, three were sold and two were redeemed by their owners.

The six unsold properties are:

13 Abbott St.
201 John St.
172 Alexandra St.
60 London St.
149 Gore St.

"Staff has conducted very preliminary research on the properties and has not found any indication that there are any significant environmental issues," says Lisa Petrocco, the city's manager of taxation.

"The public has identified that the property at 13 Abbott St. would be a good interim storage of snow site for operators clearing nearby laneways," Petrocco says in a report to Mayor Shoemaker and city councillors.

"107 Huron St. has historically functioned as an industrial site and is by default, considered a brownfield site. Having said this, it is also recognized that for a variety of reasons, it is not likely that the future development potential would include sensitive uses, such as residential."

"The engineering and public works departments have identified the property at 201 John St. for potential future road design.

"The engineering department has identified that the property at 172 Alexandra St. has a storm sewer aqueduct running through the property and should be retained.

"District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board has expressed interest for 60 London St. for affordable housing purposes."

"This program would assist with increasing the social housing inventory and would be valuable for social housing requirements in the community. If DSSAB is interested, the city would vest the property and transfer a property to DSSAB for $1.

"The remaining two properties will be included in a future report to council, which will recommend future steps. If a property is deemed as surplus and available for sale, any potential sale proceeds will offset the property taxes written off and any excess will be distributed to the property reserve fund."

Petrocco is proposing to write off $303,072 of tax arrears if the city takes over title to properties.