A local veterans association is submitting plans to secure a long-term lease for property along the city's waterfront.
Royal Canadian Air Force Association Wing 424 will present a proposal to the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority in the next couple of weeks, which outlines its desire to remain in its current home for decades.
Mark MacDonald, one of the vice-presidents at the Wing, told Seaway News the association needs a long-term lease to satisfy requirements of senior levels of government so that it can apply for loans and grants.
"The government requires we have a long-term lease before they will consider any request for funding," he said.
Just how likely the association is to receive a long-term lease is very much up in the air. The RCAFA has been housed on the city's waterfront for 60 years, and had been signing five-year leases with the Seaway until 2011, when the contracts were reduced to one year.
"We're closing in on the date for our last lease - we're down to five months," said MacDonald. "We want to be here for another 60 years."
In fact, that's exactly what the RCAFA members voted for. The proposal being submitted to the Seaway authority is for another 60-year agreement.
MacDonald said he has not heard from Seaway officials regarding their thoughts on the issue.
"Like a lot of clubs, we're struggling," said MacDonald. "We need a long-term lease to do any kind of planning for the future."
The city, province and federal governments have allsigned letters of support for the RCAFA's proposal, MacDonald added.
A representative with the Seaway could not be reached for comment.
The property the Wing currently occupies on the waterfront is considered by many to be a prime plot of land, which could be easily sold.
