City to explore community arts hub at King George school

The city will explore a partnership with Ontario’s oldest and largest post-secondary arts institution in an effort to resurrect the former King George school as a community hub.

The 106-year-old school across from Tim Hortons Field closed to students in 2012 and was originally slated to be demolished in favour of a new building. Council foiled that plan with a quick commitment to add a heritage designation.

Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Green successfully pushed for the city to buy the historic building last year. On Wednesday, he committed $1 million in ward infrastructure toward a hoped-for redevelopment of the school into a community hub for “lifelong learning.”

The plan starts with a city study of the redevelopment potential for the aging building — as well as the exploration of potential partnerships with OCAD University, the Hamilton library and a government-funded early learning child-care centre.

Green said he has been “quietly working” on the idea for more than two years and has been in talks with the wellknown arts and design university about the potential to set up shop in Hamilton.

The councillor said he envisions the building as a youth and arts-focused educational hub and a potential landing spot for a future library branch, given the proximity of the new precinct school and seniors centre being built on Cannon Street.

“This speaks directly to our mission statement, to be the best place to raise a child and age successfully,” he said.

Much will depend on the findings of a $250,000 redevelopment feasibility study funded by Ward 3 area-rating dollars and approved by councillors Wednesday.

Green isn’t running in the fall municipal election and so won’t be on council to shepherd the study through any city debates.

Green hopes to run for the Hamilton Centre MP seat for the NDP in next year’s federal election.