A source to Quinte News says it was a “poor choice” from the beginning.
In 2022, the City of Quinte West announced the purchase of 149 North Murray Street, with the goal of attracting family doctors to the area.
“The purchase of 149 North Murray Street is expected to make available much-need clinic and office spaces that will help with attracting and recruiting new doctors to Quinte West. The recruitment of doctors and creation of opportunities for medical residents to learn and build foundations in Quinte West are important elements of the City’s efforts to support our healthy, vibrant community,” stated a 2022 municipal media release.
The goal was to fix up the site to offer space for rent to various health care professionals.
Since the municipality bought the property for $1,600,000 ($75,000 above listed price), it has sat vacant.
Our source adds that no major upgrades to the building have been done since, however the city did know work was needed, including an elevator, which costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Keeping the lights and heat on in the building over the last four years have been at the expense of taxpayers and would easily be in the six figures.
In 2024, the municipality deemed the property surplus and earlier this year, the property was listed for sale CLICK HERE
A source tells us that council voted in closed session to sell the property this past December, although no one within the municipality has confirmed that detail.
“It was purchased with the best of intentions,” said another source. “There were several doctors/teams interested in the property, but nothing ever materialized.”
The asking price as of May 5, 2026, is $1,500,000, $100,000 lower that the purchase price in 2022.
Once realtor fees, four years of upkeep, and inflation is factored in (estimated 12-15 per cent loss in purchase power), the city will likely lose multiple six figures.
According to the municipality’s Budget Book, it would cost $1,900,000 to bring the building up to standards.
Jamie Troke is the Broker of Record and tells Quinte News they will soon be having an open house, so interested parties can tour the building and the property.
