We should have been notified’
Residents and business say news about Holland College plans comes as a surprise
News that Holland College in Charlottetown is trying to acquire seven properties to build a new dorm came as a surprise to most people in the affected buildings.
The college issued a news release on Wednesday that it will acquire properties on the corner of Grafton and Cumberland streets in order to build an 80-bed residence as part of the Prince of Wales campus.
The affected buildings are the Asian Market, the white house next to it, Sadat’s and apartment buildings around the corner on Cumberland Street. A woman working at Sadat’s on Wednesday afternoon said they had no idea.
“We don’t want (this to happen) because we don’t have another place to go,’’ the woman said. “I can’t say anything right now because I am shocked. It’s very hard for a business to move from one place to another place.’’
The new $6.96 million residence will have one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartmentstyle units, similar to that of Glendenning Hall, the college’s 186-bed residence located on the other side of Grafton Street.
Diane Wilkins, a resident in one of the apartment buildings, said she’d heard rumours that something was in the works.
“We should have been notified,’’ Wilkins said. “They should build homes for low income families.’’
Laura Kelly, her daughter, said the fact that residents were the last to know proves negotiations took place behind closed doors and it’s all about the allmighty dollar.
“Precisely, he just cares about the dollar,’’ Kelly said, noting that their apartment didn’t have any heat and could use a paint job. “You know why (the landlord) doesn’t want to invest the money? Because he’s getting rid of the properties. It all makes sense.’’
Kelly said it’s a win-win for Holland College and the affected residents.
“Yay, we get to move . . . to get out of here. I am so excited, thank you for telling me,’’ Kelly said to reporters.
Robert Gill, another resident, said he’s also heard rumours that something like this was bound to happen.
“It’s no surprise,’’ Gill said. “The rent is good here, (but) I’m sick of walking three flights of stairs.’’ A neighbourhood meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 7, at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at Holland College in Room 21W (use main entrance off Kent Street). Michael O’Grady, vicepresident of strategic planning for the college, said none of this is a foregone conclusion.
They college will be meeting with Charlottetown’s planning board next week with a resolution on rezoning the properties to institutional usage and for a lot consolidation possibly coming forward at the March 13 meeting of council.
“It’s critical for our continued growth and our sustainability that we have not just seats in the classroom but beds for students to sleep in,’’ O’Grady said.
Currently, the college cannot meet the demand for beds.
“It’s very important to the college to be able to attract more students from outside the province and international students.’’
Once the college takes ownership of the properties, it will assist tenants by providing them with lists of other properties and landlords who have available accommodations.
Construction is anticipated to begin in July with the new residence opening by September 2018.