Heritage agreement approved for former high school

A heritage easement agreement has been approved for the old high school site.

A heritage easement agreement has been finalized and approved allowing the Valente Development Corporation to proceed with the project at the former General Amherst High School.

The mixed use residential and commercial project at 130 Sandwich St. S. can move forward now that Amherstburg town council has approved a bylaw formally entering the town into a heritage easement agreement with the development group. The mood was a reversal of the April 13 meeting when town council voted to proceed with a Notice of Intention to Designate the property, as the new agreement now allows the company to proceed.

The agreement puts in writing the provisions to dismantle and reconstruct 1922 and 1951 south-facing facades on the former high school as well as save six of the nine murals along Laird Ave. with the three that are being removed to be commemorated or reinterpreted on the site.

Peter Valente, president of the Valente Development Corporation, was happy town council arrived at the decision it did and that the agreement was approved.

“I’m happy it went the way it did,” he said. 

Valente said he was pleased that there is certainty as to what has to be done to protect the heritage aspects of the building. He said the heritage easement agreement prevents any future disagreements with council or committees.

“It gives us certainty and we can budget accordingly,” he said.

The project now moves to the site plan control stage, Valente added.

They hope to start construction in the spring, Valente continued, but it is market dependent. The new condominium market is not strong at the moment but a new trade agreement with the United States could assist with that, he added.

An eight-story and an 11-storey condominium towers are planned as part of the development.

Councillor Linden Crain noted the section of the recommendation that stated the bylaw “ being a By-law to designate property of cultural heritage value or interest under Section 29(1) of the Ontario Heritage Act, for the property municipally known as 130 Sandwich Street South” and wondered if there was still a formal heritage designation taking place. He was reassured by heritage planner Adam Coates that it is “a common practice” to have such wording in heritage easement agreements and that heritage easements take precedence over designations.

Councillor Peter Courtney expressed his thanks that a formal heritage easement agreement was reached between the town and the developer. He said he is confident Valente will get the work done and that was the reason he supported the motion to enter into the heritage easement agreement.

Courtney added he was glad the town got behind this and the project can move forward “sooner than later.”

Councillor Diane Pouget wanted assurances that Valente was in favour of all three portions of the recommendation, with Valente nodding his approval from the gallery. Pouget asked if there were any other “roadblocks” that could impede Valente’s team. Coates said he could only address the agreement and there is a “level of comfort” reached on both ends of it.

“I believe the pathway is set and everyone is happy with it,” said Coates.

Manager of planning services Christopher Aspila added the Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments that town council had previously approved are now in place.

“Unless there are further changes to the plan, it’s in the developer’s hands,” said Aspila. 

Aspila added Valente could now apply for a building permit.

Councillor Don McArthur thanked Valente for investing in the town and the property.

“Thank you for working through the process,” said McArthur.

McArthur recalled the April 13 meeting where town council voted to issue the Notice of Intention to Designate, but indicated it was a step he felt the town had to make to protect the municipality and get to the agreement. He added he likely would have voted to proceed with the development had an agreement not been reached.

“People weren’t happy with us,” McArthur said, after the April 13 decision. He added that decision was made because “hopes and handshakes are no way to run an organization.”

McArthur added the redeveloped high school will be a major project for Amherstburg.

“It’s a show-stopper,” he said. “Transformational is an understatement.”

Saving most of the murals is important as well, McArthur added, as something of value to the town has been protected even though the murals were originally put up in 1967.

Mayor Michael Prue acknowledged tempers flared at the April meeting but said he believed an agreement would always get done. He said the best way to resolve differences is to meet and hash it out, and that’s what happened. He added the town has an obligation to protect its heritage.

Prue added he is “enamoured” with the property and believed it will transform the downtown core.

“I think everyone has a chance to go home happy tonight,” he said during Monday night’s meeting.

Heritage agreement approved for former high school

By Ron Giofu