The County of Simcoe has purchased the shuttered Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute (ODCVI) property for development of a future regional services hub.
While details remain scant, the county said the aged buildings on the West Street North property will be demolished immediately.
“Investigation into the viability of utilizing or re-purposing the older infrastructure revealed that this option was not prudent or cost effective,” said a media release from the county.
It’s also unclear if the proposed regional services hub will incorporate a plan floated several months ago by a group of people that started the Hillcrest Lodge.
That group approached city council with their proposal to turn the old school into an apartment complex for vulnerable seniors. Their idea was to incorporate a social services hub within the facility.
While the city agreed to lend its support to the plan, the county stepped forward first; it is the policy of the Simcoe County District School Board to offer its properties to its regional partners first.
Cam Davidson, one of the primary supporters of the grass-roots movement to acquire ODCVI, could not comment Thursday.
According to the county, public consultation will be sought before anything is done.
Open Houses related to the project and future uses on the site will be held in 2019. Through those forums, the county will be seeking input on the design, amenities and potential community services to be offered at the site.
Construction timelines, building design and services to be offered on the site will be determined through community needs and after public input is received.
“Orillia Council is excited to see our longstanding partner, the County of Simcoe, take ownership of this important piece of property in Orillia,” said Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke. “We look forward to seeing the county’s final development plans for the site following the public consultation process in 2019."
County of Simcoe Deputy Warden Terry Dowdall said the purchase is an important one.
“County Council continues to make critical investments in our communities to ensure we can meet the current and future service demands and social infrastructure requirements of our growing region,” said Dowdall.
“We look forward to working with both the City of Orillia and our residents to redevelop this property into a community service hub that could address multiple areas of need in Orillia and the surrounding townships, greatly benefitting residents for generations to come,” said Mark Aitken, the county’s Chief Administrative Officer.
The county and the school board have made arrangements to protect the existing student memorial arboretum on the property and the county will incorporate this area into future designs.
The county is also working closely Orillia officials to complete the permit processes and future planning.
This project aligns with the County’s Strategic Asset Management Plan, 10-Year Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention Strategy, and the Simcoe County Positive Aging Strategy.
It remains prudent to identify multi-benefit projects that align with the County’s long-term goals and objectives, and meet the growing service demands in the areas of affordable housing, long term care, paramedic services and other community service needs, including a positive aging framework. Recent County capital investments in these areas include:
- 2010 – Development of a Joint Emergency Services Centre in Stayner
- 2011 – Redevelopment of a Bradford social and affordable housing complex
- 2013 - Redevelopment of Georgian Village
- 2016 - Development of the Alliston Paramedic Services Station
- 2016 - Development of the Beeton Paramedic Services Station
- 2016 – Redevelopment of Barrie social and affordable housing complex
- 2017 - Development of the Orillia Paramedic Services Station
- Underway - Partnership with the City of Barrie to develop the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Operations Centre
- Underway - Development of the Collingwood Paramedic Services Station
- Underway – Development of an affordable housing complex in Collingwood
- Underway – Development of an affordable housing complex in Wasaga Beech
- Underway – Redevelopment of Barr’s Motel in Barrie for affordable housing
- Underway – Development of an affordable housing complex in Tay Township
