Old school to be transformed for seniors
Despite written opposition from over a half-dozen neighbours who expressed fear a proposed development will end up a boarding house and not a seniors’ residence, city council gave the green light on Monday to the redevelopment of the former Desantis elementary school.
Several neighbours wrote letters to council asking it to not change zoning for the former school on Marian Avenue which businessman Italo Ferrari hopes to convert into an 81-unit assisted care facility for seniors.
The school opened in 1970, closed down in the early 2000s, then was used most recently as Science City between 2004 and 2016. It has since sat vacant.
The issue was debated at length a couple of weeks ago by the city’s Development and Heritage
Standing Committee, but council unanimously approved Ferrari’s request for rezoning to a “lodging house” designation, which gives the developer multiple multi-residential options, including putting 40 apartments in the former school.
Ferrari’s plan calls for adding a third floor to the school if he gets approval from the provincial government to create a long-term care home.
He previously told council’s standing committee he will “definitely not” construct a rooming home — the residents’ greatest fear — since it would not be a financially viable investment.
Ferrari required the zoning change from council before he could take his next step of seeking approval from the provincial government for a long-term care residence.