While the exact details are not known, the director of education for the Lambton-Kent District School Board is optimistic about the future of the former D.A. Gordon Public School in Wallaceburg.
“We are thrilled that the building is sold,” Jim Costello told the Sydenham Current. “We are very happy to hear that it has been bought by someone who I am assuming has a plan and a purpose for the building. We would hate to see the building left to go into disrepair.”
Costello added: “Provided the person has a good plan for the building and we will leave it up to that person to disclose what that is. I don’t know what it is, Ive heard different stories but we are just glad that the building is sold and purchased by someone who has a plan to re-purpose it.”
The former Wallaceburg school, which closed its doors in June, was sold recently after being on the market since November.
Rick Strain, a sales representative with Re/Max Chatham-Kent Realty Inc., said he could not disclose the price tag for the 430 King St. building in the south side of Wallaceburg.
Costello echoed Strain’s comments.
“I’m not allowed to share the information on price. I know the building was appraised for around $170,000. I think we asked $249,000 or somewhere in that neighbourhood. It went somewhere between those numbers,” Costello said.
Costello said he hopes the D.A. site does not meet the same fate as the former W.T. Laing Public School.
“My recollection was that the W.T. Laing site was purchased to rot. Nothing was done with the building and its just kind of decomposed and became an eye sore in the community. Nobody wants that. We are hoping and we have been told that this person who has purchased the building has a plan to use it productively. Anything is better than how the W.T. Laing building. As long as there is a purpose for it, fair market value was achieved by us. I think that is good for the tax payer and it’s fair to everybody.”
Costello added: “I think when you pay that kind of money for a building, it’s appropriate to assume there is a plan. You wouldn’t buy it just to let it sit there. We are glad for the Wallaceburg community and that the people are going to see a building that is hopefully going to be productive and used for good means down the road.”
Reports say the person who bought the building is from Toronto and the sale closes in August.
The school officially closed it’s doors in June.
The decision was made to close the school after a lengthy accommodation review process in Wallaceburg.
I’m glad d a is going to standing strong after it closed as a former d a student from kindergarten to grade 8 I hope to walk back someday