HASTINGS AND PRINCE EDWARD DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Prince Edward County wants HPEDSB to reconsider expression of interest for Queen Elizabeth School property so it remains in municipality's hands

The County of Prince Edward is requesting that Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) reconsider the joint expression of interest (EOI) for the former Queen Elizabeth School property in Picton.

"Our vision for this property offers the greatest potential benefit for the community," says Steve Ferguson, Mayor, County of Prince Edward. "We want the opportunity to make our case for the property to the local school board so it remains in the hands of the municipality to address critical needs. Among those are housing options for businesses' employees. We also want to stem the migration of young families out of The County because they can't find affordable housing."

Picton has an urgent need for more affordable and attainable housing, given the make-up of The County's labour market and access to health-care and professional services. However, increasing housing stock in the town is challenging given the lack of available land in the residential core.

"As most people are aware, we have an acute shortage of vacant land in settlement areas - particularly Picton - that could be developed for attainable housing. The chance to acquire such a large, strategic parcel of municipally serviced land in the heart of Picton does not come along very often," Mayor Ferguson says. "Council has identified housing needs as one of its strategic priorities during its term. In addition to addressing affordable housing, we would also have the opportunity to improve traffic flow in the neighbourhood and potentially co-locate municipal and other services at that site."

After closing Queen Elizabeth School in 2018, HPEDSB intends to dispose of the surplus real estate property according to Ontario Regulation 444/98. The County and Prince Edward-Lennox and Addington Social Services (PELASS) submitted a joint EOI to negotiate the purchase of the 4.5-acre property at 35 Barker Street. However, The County was informed in February 2019 that an organization higher on the priority list was invited to submit an offer to purchase the property.