It looks like the former St. Agnes School in Chatham is finally coming down to make way for more affordable housing.
Chatham-Kent administration is asking permission to demolish the entire school building, including the newer gymnasium, located at 55 Croydon Street in Chatham to get the 2.43 acre site ready for future housing developments and to eliminate liability risks and operating costs of maintaining the structure.
Initially, the gym was going to be spared, but a joint report by Chatham-Kent Director of Municipal Housing Development Ray Harper and Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities Rob Pollock going before council Monday night stated it's more cost effective to tear down the gym at the same time as the rest of the school.
"It is more cost effective then keeping it and will allow more flexibility for options to maximize development, parking, and efficiencies on the property. The decision to demolish the entire school, including the gymnasium will reduce one-time and ongoing costs/risks as well as open development opportunities without the constraint of the existing gymnasium structure being located near the centre of the property," the report noted.
Demolishing the entire building will cost approximately $200,000 and the cost has already been approved in the 2025 Capital Budget.
Administration said it will be bringing some affordable housing development options for the property to council soon for its review and to seek further direction.
"There have not been any final development recommendation decisions made at this point in time as administration is still working through the pre-development processes," the report stated.
Community feedback will also be sought after council further refines the development options, according to Harper and Pollock.
The municipality bought the property from Indwell for just over $1 million in August 2024 after Indwell couldn't secure federal funding for its proposed 95 unit affordable housing project and wasn't able to complete the development.
Indwell bought the property at 55 Croydon Street in Chatham in 2021 from the St. Clair Catholic District School Board for $635,000.