Prince Edward County committee of the whole is moving forward with the process to select a community partner to work with on the Queen Elizabeth School property, by moving ahead with public consultations and seeking additional details from applicants about their proposals for the site.
During Wednesday’s special committee of the whole meeting, councillors received a report from municipal staff detailing five expressions of interest the county had received for developing the property. The focus for the former school property has been on affordable housing, and also a hub for community services.
The most detailed proposal, by New View Holdings, proposed three buildings with a total of 256 rental units. The units would be split between 50% and 60% market rate and 40% to 50% affordable. The proposed community services hub would be located in the largest of the three, and positioned at the corner of Centre Street and Barker Street.
A second proposal by A3 Partners offered to buy the land from the municipality to develop an unspecified number of homes, while leasing the land back to the municipality for $1 per year, in order to reduce municipal budget impacts.
Three more proposals were received from Port Picton Homes, Quinte’s Isle Non-Profit Housing Corporation, and Sterling Group, though they had significantly fewer details attached.
The selection process prompted vigorous debate from councillors, who considered several aspects of the project and what their goals should be with the property. Councillor Sam Branderhorst said that accepting a partnership where they only get 50% affordable housing is still a win.
“I was on the Queen Elizabeth committee, and I was very disappointed when we didn’t get the funding, as I swear everybody else around council was,” said Councillor Branderhorst. “It was not the dream come true that we thought this property would be.”
Councillor Janice Maynard encouraged taking things slowly, to get more details from applicants and ensure they got the best possible agreement they could.
“I don’t see the harm in having all of the prospective partners resubmit, or to fill out their application, to make their applications more fulsome,” said Councillor Maynard. “This was fairly short timing.”
After the debate, council voted to make a slight amendment to the motion, extending the deadline for a final recommendation on a partner organization out to November 14. The motion passed as amended, and was sent on to council for final approval.