Former Fergus high school building now on the open market

by Mike Robinson

FERGUS

Anyone in the market for a slightly used high school?

A “For Sale” sign now sits in front of the former Fergus high school.

The 17,950 square foot building on 2.33 acres is now listed with Whitney Commercial Real Estate Services at a price of $995,000.

The sign went up last week, at the same time landscaping work continued around the adjacent condominium development on the site of the former Centre Wellington District High School.

Reid’s Heritage Homes director of land development Alfred Artinger confirmed the sale of the building, stating that originally a number of uses were considered for the site.

Although the former school building was included in original site plans for the overall site, Artinger said the building is designated and zoned for commercial or institutional use.

“It does require some renovations,” Artinger noted.

He pointed out Reid’s Heritage Homes’ core business is residential development.

The two condominium buildings on the adjacent site are either complete or near completion.

Artinger stressed that had someone come along and expressed interest in developing the former school, “we may have considered offering a quote to renovate the building.”

“Since no one came forward the decision was to put it on the open market,” he said.

Centre Wellington director of planning Brett Salmon said, “There is a site plan that covers the whole site, but the remaining building is zoned commercial and the condominium is residential.”

The old high school building was severed from the residential condominium property a few years ago, after site plan approval was obtained.

The building is designated under the Heritage Act to ensure its protection.

The current online MLS listing for the property states the existing stone exterior structure must be retained.

August 3, 2012