Cost of school properties to Central Frontenac? $110,000 each

Jeff Green | Dec 16, 2015

Central Frontenac Township paid $110,000 each for the Sharbot Lake and Hinchinbrooke schools and their surrounding properties.

The township announced the purchases after a council meeting in late February, but the purchase price was not revealed at that time.

There are no firm plans for the use of the schools and township staff have not yet evaluated whether one or both of the buildings can be renovated for an alternate use in a cost-effective manner. Another alternative would be to remove the existing buildings and make use of the properties as building lots.

The need for asbestos mitigation will also have to be evaluated, as that had not been done prior to the completion of the sale.

When she announced the purchase, Mayor Frances Smith said that a public process will be undertaken to determine future uses of each property. She also said it is possible that the Sharbot Lake property might be converted to seniors' housing, and that the Hinchinbrooke site might be a good location for a single public works office and garage for the entire township.

Consolidating public works garages was one of the recommendations of a report into Central Frontenac Township operations that was completed this fall by Frontenac County Chief Administrative Officer, Kelly Pender.