What to do with Harrow high?
Some big decisions are coming for the newly elected Essex Town council in the coming months over what to do with the former Harrow High School.
Council received an external report from Haddad, Morgan & Associates about the costs associated with renovating the former High school, which the town previously bought from the Greater Essex County District School Board.
According to the consultant’s report refurbishing the building to its existing use could cost roughly $8.6 million dollars, due to necessary repairs to the structure, as well as mechanical, electrical and plumbing work.
According to a report to council, that cost could rise to more than $10 million if the building is re-purposed as a community centre.
“Additional work would be required which includes updates in accordance with the Building Code Act, updates would be required to adhere to the current Accessibility Standards, and Asbestos removal may be required,” reads the report to council.
The option of demolition is also on the table.
Council will do a walk-through of the building in the New Year and looks to hear from residents about what they want to do with the site.
“We have a lots of hopes and dreams for recreation, but I understand as mayor this cannot cost the taxpayers money. We are running lean budgets already and we are stretched with inflation, so we have to look out of the box,” said Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy.
Bondy said the town will also consider renting space to collect revenue to help offset costs, but first needs to gauge council’s appetite for embarking on the project.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.