‘Unsolicited’ Auchmar offer catches council off guard

A surprise offer by a secret suitor to buy historic, crumbling Auchmar Estate has divided city councillors.

The city is preparing to issue a request for proposals to reuse and preserve the west Mountain heritage property, which costs taxpayers about $20,000 a year to maintain — on top of the $1.1 million spent on major rehabilitation over a decade.

But city manager Chris Murray surprised councillors Monday by asking for permission to study an “unsolicited” offer — outside the planned RFP process — from an unnamed, local nonprofit organization.

Read more here: http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4595187–unsolicited-auchmar-offer-catches-council-off-guard/