Historic Bell Mansion in search of new owners to ‘reinvent,’ ‘reimagine’ its future

The 118-year-old Bell Mansion, a heritage site on 2.1 acres near Bell Park, is up for sale. Laurentian University now seeks a buyer to restore the 8,000-sq.-ft.

The well-known, historic Bell Mansion on John Street in Greater Sudbury is up for sale, listed for $1 million.

Also known as Belrock, the 8,000 square foot building is 118 years old and situated on 2.1 acres of land, not far from Bell Park.

“This property holds so much meaning to so many citizens here in Sudbury,” said broker of record, Tanya VanderBerg with Sutton-Benchmark Realty.

The mansion was first built in 1907 by William and Katherine Bell, then gifted to Laurentian University in 1968.

The building had most recently been occupied by the Art Gallery of Sudbury, but it had to close the space to public use two years ago due to structural issues.

“Actually, once the gallery was empty and they had moved on to their other space it was really cool to see the open spaces and how much potential actually this building really has,” VandenBerg said.

The sale is part of Laurentian’s plans to put its finances back in order after insolvency. The school first announced the sale of the property last December.

At the time, president and vice-chancellor, Lynn Wells said: “While the Bell Mansion holds significant historical value, the minimum costs required to repair it for occupancy far exceed what the University can responsibly invest.”

On Monday, Sutton-Benchmark Realty invited local media on a private tour of the three-story building at 251 John Street.

According to VandenBerg, there’s been a lot of interest in the Bell Mansion property. She’s confident it can sell for at least the asking price.

“We’re inviting all interested buyers to come forward with an offer. And we’re pretty confident that we’ll find a buyer here in Sudbury that can not only take on the project but also invest in its legacy and reinvent or reimagine its future.”

“You can feel the weight of history here,” said co-listing agent Courtney Marion in a news release.

“The Bell Mansion stands as a lasting symbol of Sudbury’s early growth, and we’re honoured to help find a buyer who appreciates the legacy they’d be stepping into,” she added.

Offers will be received on Aug. 25.

The Belrock property is a designated historical site. That means under the Ontario Heritage Act, any new owners must adhere to specific guidelines for any potential changes.

In a statement to CTV News, The City of Greater Sudbury said it “will continue to uphold Bell Mansion’s status as a heritage site.”

The city added that the Bell Mansion’s possible sale will be a private matter, so they will have no bearing or authority over the outcome, or what level of public access to the building a future owner allows.