Ontario Construction News staff writer
New View Holdings, the private partner in the redevelopment of the former Queen Elizabeth School site in Picton, is hosting a public information centre (PIC) on Thurs., July 16.
The PIC will take place at the Picton Town Hall (2 Ross Street) from 5 to 7 pm.
The final site plan drawings will be on display at the PIC. Attendees can browse the information and speak with the presenters and technical specialists.
The material will also be posted on the municipality’s website for review and comment.
dHastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) declared the school surplus to its needs in 2018. After a federal grant was denied in 2023 to re-develop the site for affordable housing and a community hub, the municipality decided to purchase the 1.8-hectare property, located at 35 Barker Street in Picton, from the school board for the purpose of partnering with a private-sector developer to create affordable and market rental housing and a community hub.
The objectives of the redevelopment project are to come closest to the original community vision for the site including:
- Providing as many affordable housing units as possible, with affordability as defined in the county’s Municipal Housing Project Facilities By-Law
- Creating a community hub, similar to the original vision, for local organizations
- Allowing the municipality to recoup its investment in the property (approximately $1.5 million)
- Being positioned to move forward with the redevelopment as quickly as possible
