Brenton Sparks wasn't sure the day would ever come. Tuesday night, Halifax Regional Council approved the sale of a parcel of land in Lake Loon for $1 to the Lake Loon Cherry Brook Development Association.

"I just can't wait to get started," said Sparks, the president of the Lake Loon Cherry Brook Development Association (LLCBDA). "I really don't know what to say, I mean I'm just so happy that we're here."

$170,000 for repairs

Halifax Regional Council approved the sale of the old school for $1 to Lake Loon Cherry Brook Development Association. (Save Lake Look Community Centre)

The lot is home to the old Lake Loon Community Centre. Originally built as a school in 1964, the dilapidated structure has been boarded up for years and condemned by HRM.

Now council has agreed to sell it back to the people in the community and grant $170,000 towards repairs for the building.

"What we've done today is in essence erased everything that's happened since 1964 and put ownership back into the community for them to decide the future of it," said Coun. Lorelei Nicoll.

"Now they can rebuild it and rebuild their trust in the fact people are paying attention and that they matter in the municipality," she said.

Big plans for facility

LLCBDA has big plans for the facility. They plan to have a playground for children in the area and meeting spaces in the hall for seniors and other groups. They also hope to have a new community doctor set up shop in the building.

"We're already in negotiations with a doctor in the area who wants to put a practice there," said Sparks.

"After school programs, daycare, the kind of things other communities have and need and we want to fulfil those needs in our community," he said.

Sparks says he's not sure when his group will actually take ownership of the property and be able to get to work on the site. He says the first priority will be a new roof and drying out the interior shell of the structure.

Once that's done they'll assess what materials can be salvaged and what will have to be rebuilt. The association hopes to leverage other funds to help pay for additional renovations.