Former school property’s redevelopment inches closer
By GILLIAN SLADE on August 9, 2019.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com
Covenant Health’s planned redevelopment of the Riverside School property is one step closer to reality.
This week the city’s development and infrastructure committee considered the sale of a lane-way that runs through the property. It will now go before city council on Aug. 19.
The Riverside School property is sandwiched between First and Second streets NW and Second and Third avenues. Directly in the middle, running between the avenues, is a lane-way that exists only on city documentation. It is like the lanes that run between houses in that area. This lane has not operated as a lane and does not provide access to any other properties.
Covenant Health petitioned the city to purchase this lane so it can develop the property.
The purchase price is $71,875 based on an independent appraiser’s valuation and is deemed to be at fair market value, according to city documents.
Grant MacKay, manager for land and business support, said it is considered “surplus property.” It is also not an unusual situation with many older schools having a lane-way on the property on city documents. He said Earl Kitchener School was one example.
About a year ago Covenant Health purchased Riverside School for $850,000 with plans to demolish it and build a seniors’ living facility.
“Covenant is very much looking forward to expanding our services in Medicine Hat and we are in the process of creating a vision for our place in the Riverside community,” president Derrick Bernardo said in an emailed statement.
A feasibility study is underway and all options for seniors’ housing and care are being explored, he said. Key stakeholders will continue to be engaged in the community.
“We know this site is special to the community,” Bernardo said. “As an organization, Covenant understands the importance of history and legacy to communities.
“We are committed to working with the community of Riverside to find out what is most meaningful and how we can respectfully preserve those elements of history that are important for this and future generations.”
The bell rang for the last time at Riverside School in June 2017. The financial cost of maintenance of the building contributed to the decision to sell. The sale was approved by the Ministry of Education and proceeds were placed in SD76’s capital reserve fund, superintendent Mark Davidson told the News in July 2018.
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