A mayor is hopeful about a bright future for a decaying pub after it was finally bought by the council for £750k.
The former Crown pub, on Linthorpe Road, has been empty since it abruptly closed its doors in January 2015.
Independent Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston said he wouldn’t stand by and let beloved buildings be demolished and replaced by monstrosities.
Politicians voted to buy the former boozer off its current owners last month. The council has taken an interest in the heritage asset, which was originally built for Elite Cinemas in 1923, because the cost of the investment required to bring it back into use means it is not a reasonable prospect for the private sector.
Mr Preston said: “Protecting our history is essential to the future success of our town. And that’s why we’ve stepped in to buy the old ABC/Crown from private owners who let it rot. I won’t stand by and let buildings we know and love be demolished and replaced by monstrosities.
“Almost everyone has special memories of queuing up outside the old ABC or Elite to see blockbuster films. My main memory is queuing up here to see Jaws as a kid.
“£750,000 is a lot of money but I absolutely believe buying it was the right thing to do to preserve Middlesbrough’s past and invest in our future.
“We’re in talks with interested parties and I’m hopeful that we can announce a really bright future for the building soon.”
Last month, it was revealed in a report that ideas for the space included an indoor marketplace, educational spaces, or a cultural performance venue. The former Crown pub has made it onto a list of council assets that could be transferred to the Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC), a new body that is in the pipeline to speed up regeneration in the heart of the town.
The Tees Valley Combined Authority, which is spearheading the MDC, secured £8m of government cash earlier this month to develop the area of Gresham behind the pub. Plans are being drawn up for a complex of apartments, townhouses, and food and drink outlets at the site.
A number of proposals for the Crown pub have been spoken about since 2015, however, none have made it off the ground. Once it shut its doors, it was soon sold to Cobro by Stonegate Pub Company.
Three months after the closure, the council passed an Article 4 direction to prevent the building from being demolished. A year later, Fawley Watson Booth chartered surveyors bought the building, on behalf of Capital and Regional. It was then sold again but the current owner is unknown.
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