Residents in the area of Crystal Beach may be asked to pay a levy so the city can purchase and renovate a former school, but the community association is advising neighbours not to get too worked up about it.
“We’re getting mixed feedback about the levy. Some people are fine with it, others are not,” said Crystal Beach/Lakeview Community Association president Ruth Tremblay. “We’re not sure how much it’s going to be.”
Yesterday, the city’s corporate services and economic development committee approved a motion to purchase the former St. Thomas School property, at 9 Leeming Dr. from the Ottawa Catholic District School Board, for $2 million.
With the motion passed at city council next week, city staff will negotiate with the community on the future uses for the property, as well as the amount of a special services levy to recover its acquisition costs and related construction costs.
Tremblay said they are hoping to make use of the school’s gym and a few of the classrooms.
Despite the age of the neighbourhood, there isn’t an indoor multi-use recreation centre in the area.
She said there are also some private schools interested in using the building.
If an agreement on the use and cost of the levy cannot be reached by February 2011, the property may be put up for sale.
