A new report, set to go before a City of Edmonton committee next week, has found a historic church located in downtown Edmonton is in desperate need of expensive repairs.
The report has found the exterior of the McDougall United Church has fallen into disrepair, and will need extensive renovations.
In addition, there are concerns about asbestos and fire code violations.
Its estimated repairs will cost between $18 million and $25 million to repair – much more than the $8 million to $12 million the project was initially expected to cost.
Church leaders said they have no way to cover that costs.
“I don’t have a solution, and the report the City is providing to its Executive Committee on Tuesday doesn’t have a solution either, and the alternatives are not great,” Treasurer Greg Greenough said.
In the past, planned partnerships with the U of A or Macewan University fell through. Officials with the Church want the City to take over the building, and cover the cost of repairs.
The report is expected to go before the Executive Committee on Tuesday.
With files from David Ewasuk
