More housing options will soon be available for people in Chatham.
Chatham-Kent’s council met on Monday and approved a request to build a 160-unit residential development at the former Monsignor Uyen Catholic School property on Lark Street.
The developer, which has not been named, is planning to build eight buildings with each being designed as stacked row houses.
The future of the building and property had been up in the air for several years.
The school closed its doors in 2021 and was originally sold for over $1.6 million. In 2023, there were rumours the building would be turned into an emergency housing shelter; however, this was denied by the project's developers. The plan for the property was never shared as the owner, shortly after, resold the property.
There's currently no timeline for when construction of the residential development would start.
The developers are considering appealing to the Ontario Land Tribunal over a decision made by CK's council. While council unanimously supported the project, they ended up voting against allowing a second access point to the property from Partridge Crescent.
The municipality's administration recommended the second entrance; however, only Councillors Brock McGregor, Marjorie Crew, Aaron Hall, Melissa Harrigan, Morena McDonald, and Jamie McGrail supported the idea. Councillor Amy Finn was not in attendance, while Councillor Alysson Storey did not vote.
Council heard from several residents who live on Partridge Crescent at Monday's meeting who are against the additional entrance.
People who live on Lark Street also spoke but instead asked council for the second access point to help limit the amount of traffic they'll experience. In the end, it was rejected with Councillor Michael Bondy saying it would be unfair to punish people on Partridge Crescent who choose to live in a quiet neighbourhood.
