Former Queen Elizabeth School Redevelopment
Overview:
The County purchased the 1.8-hectare (4.5 acre) Queen Elizabeth School property, located at 35 Barker Street in Picton, from Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. The property was declared surplus to the needs of the school board in November of 2018.
The intent of the purchase is to redevelop the property to serve the needs of the community, specifically the construction of affordable housing units and the provision of rental space for community-based agencies who provide services in the healthcare, childcare, youth, education and training, food security and community support sectors. A detailed background report can be reviewed here.
Strategic Alignment:
Good Infrastructure and a Diversified Economy
Priority: Housing that is Affordable
Objective: Ensure adequate stock of affordable and attainable housing in Prince Edward County.
A Community that Cares
Priority: Community Health
Objective: Remove barriers to attracting more health service providers (including doctors, nurses, PSWs and others) to The County
Key Documents:
April 11, 2024 Staff Report to Council
Staff report regarding Queen Elizabeth School (Picton) acquisition and possible next steps.
Housing Plan 2023-2028
This plan provides goals and direction for the municipality and its housing partners.
Background:
The funds required to purchase the property and undertake improvements to make-ready the existing school building for tenancy were intended to come from an upper-level government grant; however, as that did not ultimately materialize, the County will require external investment to move the vision to reality.
Objectives:
The objectives of this redevelopment project are to:
- Provide as many affordable housing units as possible, with affordability as defined in the County’s Municipal Housing Project Facilities By-Law
- Provide up to 37,000 square feet of rental space for identified community-service agencies at reasonable rates and with extended lease agreements
- Allow the municipality to recoup its investment in the property (approximately $1.5 million) within calendar year 2024
- Be positioned to move forward with the redevelopment as quickly as possible
Important Dates:
- Release of Expression of Interest (EIO) – Friday, June 21, 2024
- Deadline for questions – Friday, July 5, 2024 at 4:30 pm local time
- Issuance of addendum to registered parties (if required) – Wednesday, July 10, 2024
- EIO submission deadline – Friday, July 19, 2024 at 4:30 pm local time
- Special Committee of the Whole meeting – Wednesday, August 7, 2024
- Report to Council on Tuesday, November 26
Frequently Asked Questions
Council chose to purchase the property after last year's funding application to the federal government was not accepted because it wanted the municipality to have the highest involvement the site's re-development, with the proviso that if an appropriate partner wasn't found, that it would be listed for sale in excess of the municipality's purchase price.
The matter of the purchase of the site has been in front of Council several times since 2018, most recently with two reports in 2024. Residents were welcome to provide feedback by talking to their councillors and making deputations on Council matters and have done so.
The Expression of Interest, which is now closed, is with the following proponents:
- A3
- Sterling Homes
- Cleave Properties
- Quinte's Isle Non-Profit Housing
- New View
There are no other proponents, and no others will be sought.
Council did not set a maximum number of units in the Expression of Interest process to allow the proponents to develop their best proposals to get as close to the original vision of a combination of affordable housing and a community hub. The proponents' work in reaching their final proposals requires a great deal of financial and other considerations, and so the focus has been on a site which is the best fit for the neighbourhood, with the two goals in mind.
No. The intention of the expression of interest was to formally connect with developers capable of meeting Council direction and the municipality's vision for the property. As a result, staff have met with proponents multiple times to develop final proposals in keeping with that vision and the best design for an infill development on that property given the neighbourhood and infrastructure needs.
- Staff have taken individual feedback from residents directly to the developers
- Staff have met with a group of residents and included that feedback to the developers
- A public engagement meeting with residents was held on September 25, 2024 to explain the process, current status and explain the definition of affordable housing for the purposes of the housing mix on the site.
It is not possible to share the proponents' final proposals publicly, as it would not be possible to maintain confidentiality of the proponents' information required in the Expression of Interest process. However, if a proponent is selected by Council, its development proposal would provide the same opportunity for planning consultation as any other development.
Council has directed staff to work with the proponents to develop proposals that come closest to the original vision, which is a combination of affordable housing and community hub. Staff are working with residents, Planning Department and the proponents to find a mix of housing types and density as well as community hub that is both suited to the site and financially feasible for the proponents.
Because the process is limited to the original five proponents, any other interested parties have been encouraged to connect with the proponents but cannot be new proponents in the process.