It looks like there finally may be a future for the former Sir John A. Macdonald school.
On Monday Nordmin Engineering Ltd. president Chris Dougherty presented city council with a plan to turn the derelict building – as described by the next-door-neighbour – into the company’s expanded Thunder?Bay headquarters.
City administration is balking at the idea and are insisting on a traffic study. With 100 employees, there will likely be a lot less traffic than when the building was used as a school, with some 250 students and 30-odd teachers arriving Monday to Friday.
Unlike a previous plan to install high-density housing on the property, taking away a much beloved green space, the new plan has the backing of neighbours.
Several told council their feelings, and to their credit, council appeared to disagree with administration’s opposition to the plan.
City manager of development services Mark Smith indicated the property was prime residential development land.?But while that may be true, the wishes of the neighbours must be taken into consideration.
Dougherty has promised the green space won’t be subdivided, and administration is working on a zoning bylaw change to ensure they stick to their promises. Sounds like a good plan to us.
