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The City of Essex is exploring choices to repurpose Harrow District Excessive College into high-density residential housing, contingent upon council’s vote subsequent Tuesday.
Pending council approval, the city will provoke a request-for-proposal course of, inviting non-public builders to submit plans for growth.
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In line with the city’s mayor, changing the constructing right into a group centre is not a financially viable choice. A 2022 marketing consultant’s report discovered that the bills for vital repairs and to vary the power’s use would exceed $14 million.
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“This can be a huge deal for us,” mentioned City of Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy.
“Many in our group labored arduous to have council purchase it within the hopes of constructing a group centre. However when one door closes, one other door opens.
“I’ve all the time mentioned that I didn’t wish to see housing in the highschool, however I do know that in politics, you win some battles and also you lose some battles. We’re going to should concede to letting go of the dream of being in my highschool gymnasium enjoying basketball once more, as a result of it simply doesn’t make sense financially.”
After 5 years of negotiations, the city bought the 13.6-acre property in December 2021 from the Larger Essex County District College Board for $865,900.
The varsity, which sits at 45 Wellington St., has been shuttered since 2016.
The unique imaginative and prescient was to determine a inexperienced leisure area in Harrow’s core and remodel the highschool right into a group hub.
A marketing consultant’s report, nonetheless, indicated that the entrance portion of the constructing was in tough form and the roof in want of speedy consideration.
The city is now exploring high-density residential growth so as to tackle a rising demand for inexpensive housing choices throughout the group.
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“Individuals are involved concerning the shortfall of housing accessible, particularly inexpensive housing,” indicated a 2024 marketing consultant’s report back to council.
“As well as, the Province of Ontario has aggressive initiatives to supply extra housing to individuals. For that reason, Administration is recommending that the Harrow Excessive College property be severed and bought with the land use redesignated to high-density residential functions as this could serve the wants for inexpensive housing.”
Particularly, Bondy mentioned a rising variety of senior residents are searching for apartment-style dwelling areas that require much less upkeep.
“We all know we wish to be a part of the answer with regards to housing,” she mentioned.
“This is a perfect location to have some density. It’s a fantastic amenity area for households or for seniors. You might have entry to strolling trails, there’s a daycare, there are faculties that aren’t far.”
Bondy mentioned the city is contemplating designating solely the college for growth, whereas preserving jurisdiction over the encompassing inexperienced area.
The property, abutting Harrow Enviornment, is the grounds for the Harrow Truthful and the city’s tennis courts and a baseball diamond.
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“One of many issues that was actually necessary to council, and the primary motive why we purchased the highschool, was to retain management of the inexperienced area,” Bondy mentioned.
“So, we get to maintain all of our inexperienced area, and the developer should construct properties and accommodate parking on the present footprint of the highschool.”
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The 2024 report can also be requesting that council approve a $20,000 grasp plan to contemplate constructing an addition onto the Harrow and Colchester South Neighborhood Centre. This might assist tackle an inflow of calls for from residents citing the necessity for extra programming and facilities on the southern finish of the municipality, significantly gymnasium area.
The report indicated {that a} 14,640 square-foot addition to the centre would value roughly $8 million. This would come with an additional 4,000 sq. toes tagged onto the library and 4,700 sq. toes onto the gymnasium.
If council approves the grasp plan, the examine will collect public suggestions to find out one of the best format to maximise the usage of the property.
Offered that council additionally votes in favour of continuing with the request for proposal, any severance and/or sale of Harrow District Excessive College will return earlier than council for ultimate approval.
“It’s all depending on council’s approval Tuesday evening,” mentioned Bondy, “which I can’t see not passing.”
mmazak@postmedia.com
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