Report to/Rapport au :
Health, Recreation and
Social Services Committee
Comité de la santé, des loisirs et des
services sociaux
and Council / et au Conseil
12 January 2004 / le 12 janvier 2004
Submitted by/Soumis par : Jocelyne St Jean, General Manager/Directrice générale,
People Services/Services aux
citoyens
Contact Person/Personne
ressource : Aaron Burry, Director
Community Services/Services communautaires
(613) 580-2424 x 23666, aaron.burry@ottawa.ca
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Health, Recreation and Social Services
Committee recommend to Council that staff enter into negotiations with the
Conseil des écoles catholiques de langue francaise du Centre-Est to acquire the
portion of the Préseault School site in Orléans (1080 St. Pierre Street) shown
as Parcel B of PIN 04425-0287 on Annex "A" attached.
RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité de la santé, des loisirs et des services sociaux recommande
au Conseil que le personnel entame des négociations avec le Conseil des écoles
catholiques de langue française du Centre-Est en vue d'acquérir la partie de la
propriété de l'École Preseault à Orléans (1080, rue St-Pierre), indiquée comme
la partie B sur le PIN 04425-0287 de l'Annexe A (ci-jointe).
BACKGROUND
The Conseil des écoles catholiques de langue
francaise du Centre-Est (CECLFCE) has advised the City that it intends to
dispose of its property known as Préseault School at 1080 St. Pierre Street in
Orléans. A portion of the school
property containing community recreational facilities has been under lease to
the City for thirty years. The current
lease expires August 31, 2006.
The School Board is offering its site for sale
in two parts: Parcel A which includes
the school building and paved school yard and Parcel B containing the
recreational facilities (1.45 ha. or 3.59 acres). The school lands are adjacent to Pierre Rocque Park and together
the parcels provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities for residents
of Orléans.
The recreational portion of the site has served
the community for over thirty years and predates the acquisition of the
adjoining City owned parkland. The
facilities were originally constructed by community groups and by the former
City of Gloucester. They include a lighted
softball diamond, a fieldhouse, two tennis courts and open space where an
outdoor rink is operated in the winter.
The softball diamond is the homefield for the
Orléans Amateur Fastball Association (OAFA), a volunteer organization that
provides recreational and competitive softball programs for youth ages 5 to 23
years in the Orléans area. Their
membership is in the range of 700 players.
The ball diamond is used most evenings and all day on Saturday and
Sundays throughout the ball season. The
public uses the two tennis courts on the leased parkland and the Orléans Tennis
Club also makes use of them when the four courts on the adjoining park site are
busy. There is a seasonal rink on the
leased property offering opportunity for informal hockey games throughout the
winter.
The adjoining Pierre Rocque Park was developed
to enhance and complement the recreational facilities on the school site. The park contains both active local park
facilities: four tennis courts, a small
community centre, play equipment, ten horseshoe pitches and passive areas
adjacent to Bilberry Creek. Maintenance of both the City-owned and leased
portions of the park is carried out by the City.
Following the Board's decision that the school
was surplus to their needs the property was circulated to the City of
Ottawa. The City indicated its interest
in discussing the acquisition of Parcel B, the portion of the school site
containing the recreational facilities.
DISCUSSION
Given that Parcel B, the portion of the site which has been leased by the City for many years, contains a number of heavily used recreational facilities which have contributed to the opportunities for physical activity by local residents for many years, the loss of the land and facilities would have a significant impact on the community. The leased parkland is in the oldest area of Orléans and it would be difficult to replace it in the vicinity. Additionally, it would be costly to reestablish these amenities elsewhere in this part of the City. These active facilities are centrally located in the area they serve. The lighted ball field is also well located in that the lights do not impact on neighborhood homes.
CONSULTATION
The Orléans Amateur Fastball Association and the Orléans Tennis Club, the primary users of the site are supportive of this acquisition, as is the Orléans Recreation and Parks Association. A francophone seniors group had initially proposed that the City acquire the school building however, the business case for such an acquisition could not be made due in part to the poor physical condition of the building. Other opportunities for accommodating the needs of this group are being investigated by staff .
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
There are no financial implications on approval of the recommendation. A subsequent report to the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee will detail the results of the negotiations and any recommended purchase options.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Annex A: Plan of school site and adjoining Pierre Rocque Park (pdf only)
DISPOSITION
Corporate Services, RPAM, Real Estate Services, will enter into negotiations for the purchase of the property following the standard City procedures.