Journal Staff
Sarnia will ask Lambton County whether it might be interested using the former SCITS high school property to build affordable housing.
The south side of the 9.2 acres property at 275 Wellington St. might be useful as a hub with integrated public transit and multiple stakeholders involved, Sarnia CAO Chris Carter told city council Monday.
“Whether it’s tiny homes, whether it’s affordable housing, whether it’s senior living,” he said.
Coun. Mike Stark said the issue should be handled at the county level.
“We are in far greater need of affordable housing opportunities, and this certainly will force the issue.”
Sarnia expressed interest in the high school property a year ago in order to stay informed by the Lambton Kent District School Board of any developments and potential buyers.
Lambton County advised Sarnia in December it’s not interested in pursuing a shared use of the site, and Sarnia Fire Rescue has no use for it either, according to a city staff report.
Vision Nursing & Rest Home told the school board in 2019 it’s interested in the former high school for possible conversion into as many as 60 housing units.
Provincial law requires the board to offer surplus property to a variety of public bodies and government-funded non-profits.
A surplus school does not go on the open market until after all preferred agencies have passed on it.