Plans to convert the old South Wellington Elementary School site into a community centre and park will progress following an alternate-approval process that didn’t draw a single eligible response.
Demolition of the school was considered by Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools in 2020, but the Regional District of Nanaimo reached a deal with the school district to save the school in 2021 via a 25-year lease agreement. The lease had conditions, including outcome of an alternate-approval process seeking endorsement from residents of the area, RDN Electoral Area A.
According to a press release, the RDN will take next steps in the process after the approval process received “no eligible responses received” out of the 5,187 electors.
The alternate approval process report will now go to the board, noted the press release, and the agreement with the school district will commence.
The RDN will begin searching for consulting firms for design and construction work this spring and develop an operational plan with the South Wellington and Area Community Association, the press release said.
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