The former Queen Mary School located at 41 Octavia Street was built in 1912 and used as a school and was decommissioned and purchased by the City of Belleville in 1982. Between 2002 to 2019, the building had been leased to the Community Resource Centre Quinte. Since 2020, the building has been vacant and in need of repairs.
The City’s plan is to lease a portion of the property to a developer who agrees to build a mix of market rent and “affordable” rental units. Councillor Chris Malette has indicated that All-Together Housing and Springale Development, responsible for the Great St. James Place affordable housing project in Belleville, is eager to make a proposal for the development.
Belleville’s definition of affordable housing is a minimum of 30% of units must be available at 80% of market rate for a period of time. This is based on the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) market cost-based definition of affordable housing: 80% of market rate or a set period of time.
Belleville intends to ensure project completion
[Councillor] Carr asked if the city intends to include a proviso in the package that developers must include a completion deadline to ensure new property buyers are not engaging in land speculation.
Ashton said the city “has every intention” of ensuring project completion, noting if no interest is received by the city, the property would remain in its current condition.
The Intelligencer
Nearby greenspace
Walking distance to nearby greenspace:
- 16 minutes to Victoria Park
- 20 minutes to Sir McKenzie Bowell Park
- 21 minutes to Zwicks Park
- 24 minutes to Rotary Park
- 28 minutes Mary Anne Sills Park
City of Belleville Parkland and Recreation Master Plan defines parks and sizing as follows:
General Open Spaces – Are undeveloped lands that are accessible to the public, who may use them for active and passive recreation activities. These spaces may include pedestrian pathways, bicycle trails, community gardens, open lawn areas and remnant parcels of open land.
Neighbourhood Parks – Cater to the recreation needs of Belleville residents who live in the general vicinity of the park. Usually located within residential areas, park users can easily walk or bike to these parks. By reason of their location, access, or functional use, they offer a combination of active and passive recreation opportunities that generally serve one neighbourhood within the City of Belleville. They generally have an approximate minimum size of 1.0 hectares [2.47 acres] and include minor sports fields, multi-purpose sports courts, playgrounds, and informal play areas.
Parkettes – Are small open spaces that have no or limited recreational facilities. They are generally located in urban or residential areas, providing connections / transitions to larger parks and open spaces. They generally have a size of less than 1.0 hectare [2.47 acres] and include passive programming such as opportunities for seating (rest) and temporary gathering.
City of Belleville Parkland and Recreation Master Plan
