Old schools create land surplus
18 vacant sites may be used for parks, libraries, affordable housing
BY GORDON KENT, EDMONTONJOURNAL.COMOCTOBER 14, 2009 6:38 AMCOMMENTS (2)
EDMONTON — The city will gain 18 vacant school sites that could be used for parks, libraries or more affordable housing under a move approved by the public board Tuesday night to declare the land surplus.
The sites, each about two to two-and-a-half hectares, are located in suburban neighbourhoods across Edmonton where the kids needed to justify a new school haven't materialized, Lorne Parker, the board's managing director of planning and student transportation, said Tuesday. It is one of the public board's largest single transfers of property in this fashion, a move which has been examined since last spring, he said.
"There was an expectation on everybody's part that the areas would be more fully developed than they did," Parker said, adding the properties were provided as part of the subdivision process and have been on the board's books since as far back as the 1970s.
"We needed to make sure we don't need them and, with the exception of some of the boom years, (the neighbourhood) build-out takes many years to reach its final stage."
The land is generally connected to a park. Although it may appear to be one big green space, the "envelope" provided for future school and parking lots is actually separate, Parker said.
Trustees unanimously agreed Tuesday to divest themselves of the properties. "If we have no need for these particular spaces, they should be declared surplus," trustee Ken Gibson said. "I think the main concern our board would be to ensure our community partners are aware of the proposed change."
Eleven of the 18 sites were set aside for junior highs, including Dunluce, Blue Quill and Lymburn, and seven for elementary schools in communities such as Kiniski Gardens (also losing a junior high site) and Ogilvie Ridge, according to a board report.
The other neighbourhoods involved are Miller, Belmont, Overlanders, Ermineskin, Keheewin, Sakaw, Henderson Estates, Bulyea Heights, Summerlea, Wedgewood Heights, Aldergrove and La Perle.
The city will receive the land for $1 and must consult with various groups and decide what's needed in each district, Coun. Karen Leibovici said.
"We have areas that need seniors' housing or a library or more housing. Those are the kinds of things we would have to consider."
One possibility is expanding Edmonton's First Place Home Ownership Program, which is using 20 surplus public and Catholic school sites to create up to 1,000 units of lower-cost housing for first-time buyers.
When it was approved in 2006, the plan met resistance in some neighbourhoods from residents upset by the lack of consultation and fearful of an influx of social housing and lost green space. But Leibovici said the program has provided homes for people who couldn't have bought them otherwise.
"With the downturn in the economy, it's not gone where it could be, but I think the program is a good program."
So far, a total of 85 townhouses have been approved for the first two sites developed in Greenview and Canon Ridge.
Out of the 65 offered for sale, 55 have been purchased or have deals pending, housing branch manager Terry Loat said.
While a decision on how to proceed with the rest of the program should be announced by the end of the year, he'd like the city to consider adding some of the new sites for future construction if appropriate.
"What we're seeing now are very successful projects with first-time home buyers, and a good income mix for the community."
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