Pan Am precinct - Page 3

SteelTown · #41 Posted **Sep 24, 2013, 1:40 AM**

Yes, that's a 5 storey high school. Small site area so can only go up.

ScreamingViking · #42 Posted **Sep 24, 2013, 2:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Yes, that's a 5 storey high school. Small site area so can only go up.

I replied in the Canada thread but should repeat it here too.

One additional thought first - I wonder if this was what they had planned to replace the Scott Park school building? Would it transfer to the King George/Parkview site? (which will be debated re: heritage now) Not sure now at second glance if they'd have had the time to change the conceptual design...

Anyway, it could work, and it will have to when left with a postage-stamp site. But the way the school board has mismanaged this - their planning for the longer term, the cheap sale and planned expropriation just years later, and their relationship with the city - leaves so much to be desired.

If the lower city's demographics swing back and more younger families start calling it home, the same drama will play out again somewhere else.

king10 · #43 Posted **Sep 24, 2013, 2:41 AM**

those look like apartment buildings. how many flights of stairs will students have to walk to get to and from class? i thought that was one of the major issues with scott park

SteelTown · #44 Posted **Sep 24, 2013, 2:55 AM**

I'd imagine they would have escalator with so many floors for students to travel up and down.

ScreamingViking · #45 Posted **Sep 24, 2013, 3:10 AM**

From tonight's meeting:

"Board votes against Parkview site for me school."
https://twitter.com/TeriatTheSpec/st...37821018947584

"Board now tables north high school issue. Not good news for its tight deadlines."
https://twitter.com/TeriatTheSpec/st...38278017761280

From the feed, expropriating Scott Park may still be an option.

Read the other one too from Samantha Craggs... if Abbott & Costello had this material back in the day, their "Who's on first?" routine would surely have used it.

SteelTown · #46 Posted **Sep 24, 2013, 1:33 PM**

So Plan B is dead, thank god!

It's either Plan A which is to take over former Scott Park high school and build a new school (which I believe is gaining momentum) or go back to square one and look at renovating Delta or MacDonald.

matt602 · #47 Posted **Sep 24, 2013, 8:46 PM**

Renovating Delta should have been the obvious choice but then again this is the HWDSB we're talking about... not exactly an institution thats familiar with heritage restoration or adaptive re-use.

SteelTown · #48 Posted **Sep 25, 2013, 12:11 AM**

Public school trustees pitch a Plan C for Pan Am district high school
By Teri Pecoskie
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/41...t-high-school/

With their first two options off the table, several public school trustees are considering a new strategy for building a high school in the lower city — and it involves Scott Park, Parkview and King George.

The idea, which was raised by a number of board members at a meeting Monday, is to continue with the expropriation of Scott Park — a process set in motion several months ago. A new five-storey high school could then be built on the former high school's 1.5-acre footprint, with the Parkview and King George properties used for green space and parking.

"That's what I would be willing to do," trustee Laura Peddle said in an interview Tuesday. "You've kind of got to have them both or you don't have a good solution."

Late Monday, Peddle and other members of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board narrowly voted down a plan to demolish Parkview and King George to make way for a new $32-million high school.

Trustees only began to consider that option — their so-called "Plan B" — two weeks ago, after the city backed out of building a joint school and recreation complex at Scott Park.

Trustee Todd White told The Spectator he sees more benefits in building at Scott Park than on the four acres of property on the east side of Balsam Avenue.

That being said, he added, "I think we would be able to create green space and parking on that Parkview and King George site."

Trustee Wes Hicks, meanwhile, said he would only vote for a new school at Scott Park if playing fields were built at the other two school sites — or a "backup" site nearby.

"It's an option if everything falls in line," he said.

While several trustees may be in favour of a dual campus, it's unclear if the province — which is funding the new school — would support the plan.

In an email Tuesday, the Ministry of Education said it expects "that all school boards will reasonably attempt to utilize any existing sites they may already own before seeking funding to acquire additional properties for school facilities."

"If an appropriate site cannot be found, boards do have the ability to expropriate land for schools," added spokesperson Gary Wheeler.

The board has tabled its discussions around the new high school until at least Oct. 1, when a hearing of necessity is planned to determine if the expropriation is fair, sound and reasonably necessary.

The school's owner, a Vancouver-based developer who's challenging the process, couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.

mattgrande · #49 Posted **Sep 25, 2013, 12:07 PM**

Two questions:

1. I was under the impression that the City's historical designation of King George went into effect today. But the board is still talking about tearing it down?

2. Why aren't they looking at building on the Sir John A site?

SteelTown · #50 Posted **Sep 25, 2013, 2:41 PM**

Cause they know Sir John A land is a gold mine. They'll get millions for that property.

SteelTown · #51 Posted **Oct 1, 2013, 11:22 PM**

Window opens for board to expropriate Scott Park

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/41...te-scott-park/

By Teri Pecoskie

The public school board has cleared a major hurdle in the Scott Park saga.

Building owner Jamil Kara called off a hearing Tuesday which would have determined if an expropriation of the former school was necessary and fair.

That means the board is free to move ahead with the process, provided trustees are still interested in building a high school at the site.

"What the board said last week was that we want more information. We want to know if Scott Park is completely off the table or if we can take another look at it," said Tim Simmons, chair of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. "We've got that opportunity now."

Kara's decision clears the path for trustees to replace Scott Park with a new five-storey high school. Kitty-corner to the school, the Parkview and King George properties are being considered for use as green space and parking.

Trustees only began to consider this option last week, after rejecting a plan to build the $32-million facility at Parkview and King George. The board's first choice — to build a joint school and recreation centre at Scott Park — was dashed last month when the city abruptly pulled out of the partnership.

Simmons couldn't say why Tuesday's hearing had been cancelled, and Kara didn't respond to The Spectator's requests for comment.

But Joe Hoffer, an expropriation lawyer for Cohen Highley LLP in London, wasn't shocked.

"A lot of owners will get some disclosure and then withdraw their request," said Hoffer, who's not involved in the case. "It isn't unusual."

With the hearing out of the way, the board now has 90 days to register a plan of expropriation and take possession of the property. Kara would then file a claim for compensation and the Ontario Municipal Board would be asked to determine an appropriate amount — typically market value, Hoffer said.

Simmons said the board had Scott Park appraised, but he wouldn't reveal any details. In May, Kara said the building, which he bought for $1.2 million less than two years ago, is now worth at least $6 million.

The board is expected to decide on a site for the school by the end of the month.

SteelTown · #52 Posted **Oct 21, 2013, 1:33 PM**

So now the recommended plan is to demo Scott Park, Parkview and King George. Locate the high school to Parkview and King George area (3 storey) and locate the parking lot at Scott Park.

I rather have the high school replace Scott Park and locate the parking lot at Parkview and King George area.

flar · #53 Posted **Oct 21, 2013, 1:52 PM**

I wish they wouldn't tear down King George. My wife used to work there and it's an awesome building.

SteelTown · #54 Posted **Oct 21, 2013, 2:05 PM**

Should be interesting as Council is ready to designate King George.

mattgrande · #55 Posted **Oct 21, 2013, 3:21 PM**

I can't believe they're talking about expropriating the former Scott Park to tear down and build a parking lot. What an absurd farce.

matt602 · #56 Posted **Oct 21, 2013, 5:06 PM**

Ridiculous.

drpgq · #57 Posted **Oct 21, 2013, 8:17 PM**

So can the city make it so King George can't be demoed? Because if they can, that's what I definitely want.

ScreamingViking · #58 Posted **Oct 21, 2013, 9:52 PM**

That stretch of King has been crying out for a parking lot.

flar · #59 Posted **Oct 22, 2013, 1:26 PM**

Ridiculous is an understatement.

Every person involved with the school board's decision making should be relieved of their duties immediately. I'm totally serious.

They just closed down and sold Scott Park a few years ago, and now they want to buy it back, tear it down, and build another high school?

You couldn't find a better example of absurdity and incompetence.

SteelTown · #60 Posted **Oct 22, 2013, 1:33 PM**

^ Nope, they voted last night for demolishing Scott Park for a parking lot instead of a high school.

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/41...-school-board/