The Westminster Club’s seventh-floor penthouse has been sold to the Community Living Society for over $1.3 million.
The court-ordered sale took place at the Vancouver Court House Monday (Dec. 2) morning.
Westminster Club President Allen Domaas said the winning bid was “disappointing.” The 7,429 square-foot property on the seventh floor of the Westminster Building was originally listed at $2.1 million.
“It’s very disappointing and this is very difficult,” said Domaas. “We have no facility, home or property now.”
Domaas said the members will meet tomorrow (Tuesday), but it is likely the last meeting of the Westminster Club.
“With only 10 members, the writing is on the wall,” said Domaas.
The Community Living Society (CLS) now owns the former Westminster Club digs, subject to court approval. The society started in New Westminster in the late 1970s and is dedicated to reintegrating people with disabilities into the community.
“We have been looking for a building in the city with proximity to the SkyTrain that was affordable and this is a fantastic opportunity for us to make ourselves more accessible,” said Ross Chilton, CLS Executive Director. “We were looking and this opportunity came up.”
Chilton said about 30 CLS employees will move into the Westminster Building once the offices are renovated for their use. CLS has 480 employees working in 11 communities across B.C.
Chilton said CLS weighed the pros and cons of continuing to pay rent for its offices in Burnaby versus acquiring a space of its own. At the price, it made more sense to pay down a mortgage on an asset than to pay rent.
He’s especially pleased that the building is right between two SkyTrain stations, making it more accessible to staff and clients.
The sale marks the end of the Westminster Club as a longtime fixture in the penthouse of the Westminster Building at 713 Columbia St. Formed in 1889, the business and social club had been located on the top floor of the Westminster Building since it opened in 1922.
As membership declined through the decades, the club spent less money on upkeep of its penthouse premises. A decision was made that in order to attract more members, the space needed to be refurbished. But the club wasn’t able to secure a new mortgage at a reasonable rate and it was decided to put the floor up for sale.
New Westminster Coun. Chuck Puchmayr said it was a good thing.
"More jobs and potential customers for our local merchants while it continues to show a viability for a historic building in our downtown," he said.
