Battle over St. Patrick’s-Alexandra school could end in court
Posted Jan 24, 2012 06:26:34 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There will be a little more pressure on regional councillors today when they debate the next move in the St. Patrick’s-Alexandra school saga.
Developer Joe Metlege, president of the firm that was originally awarded the former school property, tells News 95.7 he will take the city to court if the sale falls through.
“We have still almost $300,000 that the city is holding and we had to pass on several other business opoprtunities after we had originally been awarded the site,” he said.
Metlege’s company, Jono Developments, won the bidding process for the school and council approved the sale in early December.
However, the decision prompted a furious outcry from north-end residents, who wanted the space handed over to community groups. Community leaders claimed the city had not followed its own policies for disposing of surplus property, leading council to put the sale on hold earlier this month.
Now, city staff has submitted a report to council confirming the policy was not followed. The report offers four options for proceeding, ranging from honouring the deal with Jono Developments to starting the sale process over from square one.
Coun. Dawn Sloane, the councillor for the area, tells News 95.7 her constituents have made it clear they want the sale conducted properly, with a community consultation.
“Obviously it has to do with the fact that community wants input and community wants the ability to look at all options for a former school,” she said. “We have to look at the fact that we have a policy that has not been followed. We have a community that’s under development pressure that wishes to look at the viability of them moving into that space.”
Sloane says part of today’s debate will have to occur in camera, in order to hear legal advice from city solicitors.
Metlege has said he is open to accommodating the community in his plans for a mixed residential and commercial development on the site. He said he has tried to reach out to the community groups that have been most vocal through the process.
“Time and time again they have rejected our calls and refused to deal with us,” said Metlege.
He says he would designate up to 10 per cent of the residential space for affordable housing and up to 10 per cent of the commercial area for community or non-profit use.
