The City of Hamilton wants to address its need for more cemetery space in Dundas by making an offer to purchase Parkside Secondary School.
Meanwhile, a group of Dundas residents hope a new vision for the site might keep the former school building intact with a different use.
The city's school board properties sub-committee passed a motion last week directing the real estate section to present a “bona-fide offer to purchase the surplus property at 31 Parkside Avenue.”
The motion, which goes to general issues committee for approval on February 3, then must be approved by the full city council, goes on to state that if the city is successful in its bid that the former school building be demolished and staff pursue the use of a portion of the site for cemetery uses. Any remnant piece of the property deemed surplus would be sold by the city.
In November, city staff reported new land must be acquired by the city for Dundas cemetery use within five years – as Grove Cemetery nears capacity.
At the time, staff said the search was just starting and no particular areas had been identified.
Parkside was circulated to a list of preferred agencies, including the City of Hamilton, on Nov. 12. Those organizations have 90-days to make an offer to purchase the site.
The property was then circulated among all city departments to gauge their interest in acquiring it. In August, the school board properties sub-committee directed staff to conduct its due-diligence and begin reviewing the Parkside property. Last Friday’s recommendation was the result of that report.
Bob James, a member of the group calling itself Dundas Works, said he and a few other residents developed a proposal in hopes of seeing Parkside re-purposed into affordable community housing and shared community space.
James said the group would like to form a Dundas-based non-profit housing co-operative that would own and renovate the building. He suggested several second floor classrooms could be renovated into apartment units that would sell for between $100,000 and $150,000.
The proposal includes keeping the current gym-auditorium and making them common spaces – while providing non-profit office spaces on the ground floor to groups like Giant’s Rib and the Cootes to Escarpment Ecopark.
James said selling some of the land along Parkside Avenue for single family homes that fit with existing homes would make the project viable.
“We don’t have a business plan yet,” James said. “Right now we’re hopers and dreamers.”
But James also pointed out they are not a “fly-by-night” group.
He said last week’s motion from the school properties sub-committee is not a concern to the group. They want the property in public hands, and would like to work with the city to convince them their proposal could be a viable plan. He said it’s better than the city deciding at this point to not make any offer for the site.
James also said even if the property does end up as a cemetery, it’s better than “monster” homes or a high rise condo building.
Next for Dundas Works is talking to immediate neighbours of the former school property, and also developing a business plan.
The staff report reviewed by sub-committee members last Friday afternoon remains confidential until the completion of a transaction to purchase the site.
A budget and funding for the purchase, demolition, remediation and other costs was approved but remains confidential.
McMaster University and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, also preferred agencies circulated on Parkside’s availability, have already decided not to make any offer to purchase.
The City of Hamilton wants to address its need for more cemetery space in Dundas by making an offer to purchase Parkside Secondary School.
Meanwhile, a group of Dundas residents hope a new vision for the site might keep the former school building intact with a different use.
The city's school board properties sub-committee passed a motion last week directing the real estate section to present a “bona-fide offer to purchase the surplus property at 31 Parkside Avenue.”
The motion, which goes to general issues committee for approval on February 3, then must be approved by the full city council, goes on to state that if the city is successful in its bid that the former school building be demolished and staff pursue the use of a portion of the site for cemetery uses. Any remnant piece of the property deemed surplus would be sold by the city.
In November, city staff reported new land must be acquired by the city for Dundas cemetery use within five years – as Grove Cemetery nears capacity.
At the time, staff said the search was just starting and no particular areas had been identified.
Parkside was circulated to a list of preferred agencies, including the City of Hamilton, on Nov. 12. Those organizations have 90-days to make an offer to purchase the site.
The property was then circulated among all city departments to gauge their interest in acquiring it. In August, the school board properties sub-committee directed staff to conduct its due-diligence and begin reviewing the Parkside property. Last Friday’s recommendation was the result of that report.
Bob James, a member of the group calling itself Dundas Works, said he and a few other residents developed a proposal in hopes of seeing Parkside re-purposed into affordable community housing and shared community space.
James said the group would like to form a Dundas-based non-profit housing co-operative that would own and renovate the building. He suggested several second floor classrooms could be renovated into apartment units that would sell for between $100,000 and $150,000.
The proposal includes keeping the current gym-auditorium and making them common spaces – while providing non-profit office spaces on the ground floor to groups like Giant’s Rib and the Cootes to Escarpment Ecopark.
James said selling some of the land along Parkside Avenue for single family homes that fit with existing homes would make the project viable.
“We don’t have a business plan yet,” James said. “Right now we’re hopers and dreamers.”
But James also pointed out they are not a “fly-by-night” group.
He said last week’s motion from the school properties sub-committee is not a concern to the group. They want the property in public hands, and would like to work with the city to convince them their proposal could be a viable plan. He said it’s better than the city deciding at this point to not make any offer for the site.
James also said even if the property does end up as a cemetery, it’s better than “monster” homes or a high rise condo building.
Next for Dundas Works is talking to immediate neighbours of the former school property, and also developing a business plan.
The staff report reviewed by sub-committee members last Friday afternoon remains confidential until the completion of a transaction to purchase the site.
A budget and funding for the purchase, demolition, remediation and other costs was approved but remains confidential.
McMaster University and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, also preferred agencies circulated on Parkside’s availability, have already decided not to make any offer to purchase.
The City of Hamilton wants to address its need for more cemetery space in Dundas by making an offer to purchase Parkside Secondary School.
Meanwhile, a group of Dundas residents hope a new vision for the site might keep the former school building intact with a different use.
The city's school board properties sub-committee passed a motion last week directing the real estate section to present a “bona-fide offer to purchase the surplus property at 31 Parkside Avenue.”
The motion, which goes to general issues committee for approval on February 3, then must be approved by the full city council, goes on to state that if the city is successful in its bid that the former school building be demolished and staff pursue the use of a portion of the site for cemetery uses. Any remnant piece of the property deemed surplus would be sold by the city.
In November, city staff reported new land must be acquired by the city for Dundas cemetery use within five years – as Grove Cemetery nears capacity.
At the time, staff said the search was just starting and no particular areas had been identified.
Parkside was circulated to a list of preferred agencies, including the City of Hamilton, on Nov. 12. Those organizations have 90-days to make an offer to purchase the site.
The property was then circulated among all city departments to gauge their interest in acquiring it. In August, the school board properties sub-committee directed staff to conduct its due-diligence and begin reviewing the Parkside property. Last Friday’s recommendation was the result of that report.
Bob James, a member of the group calling itself Dundas Works, said he and a few other residents developed a proposal in hopes of seeing Parkside re-purposed into affordable community housing and shared community space.
James said the group would like to form a Dundas-based non-profit housing co-operative that would own and renovate the building. He suggested several second floor classrooms could be renovated into apartment units that would sell for between $100,000 and $150,000.
The proposal includes keeping the current gym-auditorium and making them common spaces – while providing non-profit office spaces on the ground floor to groups like Giant’s Rib and the Cootes to Escarpment Ecopark.
James said selling some of the land along Parkside Avenue for single family homes that fit with existing homes would make the project viable.
“We don’t have a business plan yet,” James said. “Right now we’re hopers and dreamers.”
But James also pointed out they are not a “fly-by-night” group.
He said last week’s motion from the school properties sub-committee is not a concern to the group. They want the property in public hands, and would like to work with the city to convince them their proposal could be a viable plan. He said it’s better than the city deciding at this point to not make any offer for the site.
James also said even if the property does end up as a cemetery, it’s better than “monster” homes or a high rise condo building.
Next for Dundas Works is talking to immediate neighbours of the former school property, and also developing a business plan.
The staff report reviewed by sub-committee members last Friday afternoon remains confidential until the completion of a transaction to purchase the site.
A budget and funding for the purchase, demolition, remediation and other costs was approved but remains confidential.
McMaster University and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, also preferred agencies circulated on Parkside’s availability, have already decided not to make any offer to purchase.