Council OK’s buying former school property for possible housing

After long debate Monday, Chatham-Kent councilors approved a staff recommendation to buy a former school property for potential affordable housing.

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The building and property at 55 Croydon St. in Chatham, formerly St. Agnes elementary school, was bought in 2021 by Indwell Community Homes from St. Clair Catholic District school board for $635,000.

Indwell, a Christian charity that provides supportive and affordable housing in other communities, partnered with local groups and the municipality in recent years in a bid to create supportive housing units across Chatham-Kent. But the project didn’t win federal funding and Indwell halted its plans.

Monday, municipal staff recommended Chatham-Kent buy the one-hectare (2.5-acre) property from Indwell for $1.05 million, plus closing costs.

Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor said it made sense for the municipality to control the property and its ultimate use.

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“The No. 1 thing we hear (in) feedback from the public is we have a housing shortage, we have a homelessness issue, we have an extremely long wait for affordable housing,” he said. “We need to control some options to build affordable housing.”

Council passed the recommendation 10-7, authorizing staff to demolish the original school building, except for the new gym area and coinciding infrastructure, at an estimated cost of $200,000, to prepare the property for future development.

“The cost of acquisition, demolition and general maintenance (would) be treated as an investment in property on the municipal balance sheet until future permanent decisions on the use of the facility are made by council,” the staff report said.

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Several residents spoke early in the meeting against the purchase, with some noting the increased cost and arguing the area isn’t suitable for such a development.

Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy said the purchase gives the impression housing development at the site is a foregone conclusion.

He sympathized with residents, who were used to living beside a school, he said.

“I don’t think it’s fair to the neighborhood,” he said. “(And) I don’t think we should be buying property. We sell property all the time, because we have lots of property.”

Staff stressed the approval didn’t commit Chatham-Kent to any project, just to acquire a property that could have future benefit in a challenging real estate market.

“Council gets to decide what you’re going to be doing with the property,” chief administrator Michael Duben said. “Council has expressed that affordable housing, and the whole spectrum of housing, is important.”

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Councilors ultimately could decide to sell the property in the future, if they wished.

Monday’s report noted staff will continue to “consider the site for future supportive and/or affordable housing projects and . . . seek out grant funding from upper-level governments for both operating and capital costs and potential partnerships, and report back to council with options for consideration by early 2025.”

The gym is in “excellent condition” and could be considered for a standalone community recreation center, staff said, adding the rest of the school is in poor condition and recommended for demolition.

“Indwell is open to continue to explore opportunities to work with Chatham-Kent to provide supportive housing as an operator if capital and operational funding needs are satisfied,” the report added.

The property would enhance the municipality’s future bids for affordable housing grants, including Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. rapid housing initiative second-round funding opportunities, staff said.

Chatham Coun. Marjorie Crew said the purchase removes a barrier for many developments.

“This is a shovel-ready property that we can apply to the feds and the province for funding,” she said.

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