Shuttered school sold to unidentified developer

Price not disclosed on property on which Tecumseh councillor wants to see homes

The Greater Essex County District School Board has sold the shuttered Victoria elementary school in Tecumseh to an unnamed developer.

Sealed offers for the 4.4-acre property were taken in mid-April and the winning bid was approved last week.

A price was not disclosed. Tony Haddad, the chief administrative officer for Tecumseh, said a developer is “working with the town’s planning department on options for development of this site.”

What type of development, in terms of single residential, condominiums or retail space, is unknown.

“The developer has not yet determined what they will be,” Haddad said in an email.

“As I understand, he’s considering all options.”

Victoria was closed in 2014 due to declining enrolment. The remaining 136 students moved to Tecumseh’s A.V. Graham Public School.

“In speaking with neighbours, they want to see something happen with the property,” said Andrew Dowie, a Tecumseh councillor for Ward 1 where the Dillon Drive property lies.

Dowie grew up near the elementary school.

“I would say it’s definitely suitable for additional residential. I think that would be a great use for that property. If you look at the site, it’s surrounded on all sides by residential,” he said. Haddad said the property would have to be rezoned “as part of the process.”

It is currently zoned institutional.

“We don’t discuss property transactions,” said Cathy Lynd, the board’s superintendent of business.

She acknowledged there were three shuttered schools, namely Victoria, Gordon McGregor and J.E. Benson, available by tender earlier in the year. Recently, the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board sold St. Bernard’s in Amherstburg, which included 6.13 acres of land, to the town for $550,000. The public board had a conditional offer for Benson that came to light last January. Markham businessman Ya Chen Liu made the offer with plans to turn the building into a private English language high school.

The condition involved a change to the zoning bylaw. Norma Coleman, chief of staff to Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, said “a housekeeping amendment” to the zoning bylaw has been written and still must go before city council for approval. Following a 20-day appeal period,

I would say it’s definitely suitable for additional residential. I think that would be a great use for that property If you look at the site, it’s surrounded on all sides by residential.

the new owners would then be free to start the makeover. McGregor closed in 2016 while Benson closed in 2014. Demolition of Concord public school, which closed in 2010, continued this week. That property on Raymond Avenue was purchased by the city with plans for low-density housing.