A developer has successfully pitched a proposal to place new units of affordable housing on the site of a former Leamington school.
At its meeting Tuesday night, Leamington Council agreed to accept the proposal submitted by Amico Properties Inc., to transform the former Leamington District Secondary School (LDSS) site on Talbot Street into a housing development.
The preliminary design consists of two six-storey apartment buildings with 200 total affordable housing units, plus 105 townhouse units. At least 30 per cent of the units will classified as "attainable".
All units will be accessible, with a central park area, a smaller parkette around the central mailbox, and a daycare building.
The project will go up in two phases. The first will involve building one of the apartment buildings, approximately 32 townhomes, and the daycare. The second phase is the remainder of the development, including the majority of the attainable dwelling units.
Depending on demand, the project could be completed within three years, though it may be extended to five years.
The former LDSS closed after the 2016-2017 school year when the school moved to a new building on Oak Street. The site sat unused until the Municipality bought it from the Greater Essex County District School Board in 2020, with the hope of housing on the site.
The approval is subject to the plan meeting the requirements of the Request for Proposal (RFP) and other conditions.
