THUNDER BAY – The former Fort William Collegiate Institute property will be put on the auction block later this month.
The century-old former Thunder Bay high school will be put up for sale in an online auction closing on June 26 by a southern Ontario-based auction firm, with a starting price of $200,000.
The Marks Street school, which is on the city’s heritage registry, was originally built in 1907 with further additions coming in 1918, 1925 and 1970 before its closure in 2005.
The property had been purchased a decade ago by developer Ahasanul Habib, with the intention of converting the building to condominiums. A gymnastics company has operated out of the gymnasium for at least five years.
Local realtor Jack Mallon said the main building was gutted out to prepare for conversion to condo units.
“It’s in construction mode. You have to tear everything out and then you have to rebuild it. It’s the tearing out phase it’s in right now,” Mallon said.
“The thing is built like the Taj Mahal. It’s really well built.”
A number of other prominent Habib-owned properties have been on the market for more than a year. Those listings include the Royal Edward Arms building and former Dawson Court long-term care home.
