Repairing and saving the historic hose tower in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue will cost $71,000 according to newly released numbers from the city’s demolition committee.
That’s only $14,000 more than the price to demolish the structure, according to mayor Paola Hawa. Previous estimates placed the cost difference at $30-40,000.
READ MORE: Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue hose tower faces demolition
The mayor hopes the recently released figures will spur a new debate to save the structure that has stood atop city hall for 80 years.
“For those who care about the tower and who want their voices to be represented it’s time for them to show up at council meetings and/or speak to their councillor,” she told Global News on Thursday.
Hawa was outvoted on trying to save the structure by council last month. The mayor says a resident needs to launch an appeal for any chance to protect the tower from the wrecking ball.
READ MORE: Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue mayor rallies to save water hose tower
“With that appeal, it then goes back to the full council for reconsideration one more time. And the full council gets to vote on the order,” Hawa said.
The hose tower was used decades ago to hang and dry out leather hoses after being used by fire fighters to battle blazes.
If nothing is done the tower could be dismantled in 30 days according to Hawa.
“Now that the numbers have been revealed publicly and can be shared, I think for the next 30 days the discussion is going to be quite interesting,” Hawa concluded.