Irving Oil’s ‘Golden Ball’ building sold, could be demolished

The long-awaited alignment of a Saint John intersection is now complete.

A historic piece of property in uptown Saint John, N.B., could soon be no more.

The property on 10 Sydney St., better known to locals as the Irving Oil “Golden Ball” building, has been sold.

Details surrounding the sale, including the price and buyer, have not been made public.

CTV News has confirmed that late last week the City of Saint John did receive an application for a demolition permit for the site, which is in the process of being reviewed.

No permit has been issued by the city at this time.

J.D. Irving, Limited confirms purchase of Golden Ball building

J.D. Irving, Limited has purchased the former Golden Ball building and property as part of the long-term planning for its corporate headquarters site.

In 1931, K.C. Irving established the Golden Ball Garage that operated as his Ford dealership. By the 1950s, the building was head office to several Irving companies. It has been vacant since 2019. After an extensive assessment, the structure has been deemed no longer suitable for use and will be removed.

The site will be maintained as green space while future possibilities are evaluated. No decisions have been made about long-term use.

“The Golden Ball is significant in our company’s history, and we know the site carries memories for many people,” said Anne McInerney, vice president of communications. “We’re disappointed the building is no longer viable and want to prevent it from falling into further disrepair. Our focus is to manage this transition responsibly and take the time we need to plan thoughtfully for the future.”

No specific redevelopment projects are being considered at this time.

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