Patrons are anxiously waiting to find out the fate of the St. Mary's Boat Club on Halifax's North West Arm.

The community space is more than a 100 years old and one of the last structures of that vintage in the area.

The building is prone to flooding from storm surges and part of it sits on wooden cribs already in the water due to rising sea levels, but it's worth saving, according to the North West Arm Heritage Association.

"It's got a long history," association president Michelle Raymond said Wednesday.

"We've lost the Jubilee, the Sunshine, the North West Arm and the Armdale Boat House."

The St. Mary's Boat Club has a lot of damage, including peeling paint and structural problems. (CBC)

Councillor confident some funding possible

The regional councillor for the area hopes to get the short-term repairs into next year's budget.

"I don't think anybody wants to see the heritage building fall into the ocean," said Waye Mason, councillor for downtown and the South End.

"$150,000 to prop up that building is reasonable, so I expect we will see that happen."

Patrons of the St. Mary's Boat Club are anxiously waiting to hear about the future of the popular community facility. (CBC)

Repairs needed now, rowing club director says

Halifax staff have been working on a report since last spring. It includes longterm plans to raise the building and turn it into a year-round operation, which early estmiates show that could cost $3-4 million.

The report won't be ready until early 2016.

Jonathan Tyson is the president of the Halifax Rowing Club, which uses space at the St. Mary's Boat Club. (CBC)

The head of the Halifax Rowing Club, a tenant in the building, has been anxiously waiting for more immediate repairs.

"Right now there are two pressing issues: making sure it's stable and usable, and how do we prevent further damage from rising water levels?" Jonathan Tyson said.

The Rowing Club is just one of the ways people in the area use the facility. The club is a not-for-profit organization with around 450 members of ages 13 to 70, Tyson said.