Amherstburg reverses decision to buy Bellevue House for $1.1M

After rejecting a proposal to buy Bellevue House,Amherstburgtown council decided to take overthe historic mansion.

Councillorsagreed Monday to purchase the house for $1.1million, which will be paid over the next five years.

• Bellevue House in Amherstburg up for sale at nearly $2M

BellevueHouse dates back to 1816 and is on the National Trust for Canada's top 10 list of endangered places.

The property went back on the market in May when it was listed for nearly $2 million.

Robert Honor has been working with other citizens for the past eight years, trying to preserve the property by encouraging a public body to buy it.

"The house is historically so significant that it needs to be in some kind of responsible ownership...that is dedicated towards preserving the heritage and architectural value of the building," he said.

Councilrecently decided to buy another property, the old Duffy's Tavern, located on the riverfront.That property is expectedto be redeveloped into a public space.