College buying up properties

Holland College continues to snap up properties for future needs.

Work will soon begin demolishing seven properties at the corner of Grafton and Cumberland streets to make way for a new 80-bed student residence.

The college is also borrowing $800,000 from the P.E.I. government to buy two additional properties on Kent Street.

“That is for future purposes for campus development for Holland College,’’ said Justin Dunn, director of facilities management. “Currently . . . I believe one is a single family dwelling and the other is more residential, as well, but has been rental units in the past.’’

Holland College already owns a number of historic properties along the Kent Street section of the campus.

“Those properties are very strategic properties for us where they’re located. We own a lot of the other properties on that street so when the opportunity came up it just seemed to make sense.’’