City and School Board Urged to Preserve
North End School Site
September 13, 2005

The Social Planning and Research Council (SPRC) has written to city council and the public school board urging them to ensure the Robert Land School site continues to serve public needs. They want the site used for affordable housing and a community centre.

The Wentworth Street North school was closed last year and put up for sale by the school board. The city didn't exercise its first dibs on purchasing the site, allowing it to move onto the open market. At the urging of the Keith Neighbourhood Renewal Committee, council subsequently put in a bid on the property but it was rejected by the board as insufficient.

The city's bid was reportedly about $300,000 - far less than the $1.1 million recently spent by council to acquire an Ancaster school site in a much wealthier neighbourhood. The school board apparently wants $360,000 for Robert Land and could sell the site to a private developer. A number of community programs made use of the school prior to its closure.

In its letter, the SPRC cites the support of numerous other groups and agencies for its bid to keep the school in public hands. These include the Affordable Housing Flagship Initiative, the Rotary Club, YMCA and Hamilton Community Foundation. However the letter notes their efforts "will require support and investment by City Council and the District School Board."

The letter goes on to state: "With the support and resources of these community partnerships, we are optimistic that together, we can develop long term solutions in a community that is increasingly disadvantaged and experiencing declining services, resources and supports that children and families need."

The school is surrounded by industrial and commercial uses and is located across the street from a small parkette that vividly illustrates those "limited resources". Less than an acre overall, North Central Park is overshadowed by a massive 25-foot high pile of twisted pieces of scrap metal.

The SPRC letter is on the agenda of tomorrow evening's city council meeting and can be examined at
http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/
173BB52A-7F4C-455C-AB3A-85C3CE5B7120/0/Sep14_Item_510.pdf. Council is gathering in the old Dundas town hall for the 7 pm meeting.