A Blue Mountain developer has its eyes on the historic remains of Collingwood’s Victoria school.
David Bunston, president of Georgian International’s real estate division sent a letter to Collingwood council letting them know he’s made an offer on the Victoria Annex property at 400 Maple Street.
The Annex is the only part of the former Victoria school still standing. Though it’s in rough shape, with its windows boarded up and its roof in need of emergency repairs.
A recent letter by the Architecture Conservancy of Ontario Collingwood chapter urged the town’s heritage committee and council to push harder to make sure the building was preserved and did not fall victim to demolition by neglect.
Bunston in his letter to council said he shared the concerns raised by the local chapter of Architecture Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) and promised to work with the town, the heritage committee, and the ACO to address the concerns.
Georgian International is the developer behind the Windfall projects at Blue Mountain on Mountain Road and Grey Road 19.
The letter states Georgian Communities has “entered into an agreement of purchase and sale,” but the transaction has not yet been completed.
The current owner of the Victoria Annex property and building is Ken Vogel, who initially was planning a 19-unit development for the site. Vogel listed the site for sale last summer, but still kept his proposal in the works, planning to turn the heritage building into four residential units.
Vogel later submitted an application to demolish the building last year. The application was not granted, however.
Collingwood council had the building declared a property of heritage value through the Conservation Review Board in 2019.
Town staff have also issued property standards orders to make the building and property safe. Property standards orders for the site were issued as early as 2017.
When council received the letter during its July 27 meeting, Councillor Deb Doherty asked what happens to the property standards orders if the property switches hands again.
“Some of the issues with the property are quite urgent,” she noted.
Director of Planning Adam Farr said town staff have had discussions with Georgian International about the property standards orders.
“They’ve been productive so far,” noted Farr.
