District of Port Hardy officials have confirmed they have a sale pending for the Seaplane Base on Hardy Bay Road.
The selling price was listed as $500,000 but, with the sale pending, district officials would not get into details about the price or buyer.
The artificial island and building at the base was constructed in 1992 and the district entered into a water lot tenure with the provincial government in 1995. The water lot tenure was renewed in 2010 and is for a 30-year term.
According to the district, the sale will include assets and the water lot tenure. It would likely continue the same use, which is a seaplane and pilot boat base.
According to a real estate listing online, what’s up for sale is the water lease and improvements within the lease, including a 1223 square foot building with three offices, two washrooms and reception area. There are also two, 500-gallon fuel storage tanks in a secure compound, two docks and ramps.
The seaplane dock is 300 lineal feet of dock plus the ramp. The marine dock is 100 lineal feet plus the ramp. The area is zoned Marine Commercial M-1 and the water lease area is 2.89 acres.
District officials said changing the use of the land can be a difficult process and they expect any buyer would continue to operate the facilities as a sea plane base.
Mayor Hank Bood did say any sale of the facility would be a good deal for district taxpayers, who would no longer be on the hook for ongoing maintenance costs. He also said the district could also realize property tax revenue if there was a sale to a private owner.