Old Lorne Middle School eyed for health, employment training centre

A coalition of community groups in Saint John wants time to put together a proposal to take over the former Lorne Middle School in the city's north end.

The members are sending letters to Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Roger Melanson asking to hold off selling the building for 18 months.

They hope to transform the school — where classes ended in June of 2015 — into a centre offering health services, employment training and other activities to people living in low income north end neighbourhoods.

"There's a lot of interest already in the community," said Saint John Coun. John MacKenzie, who sits on a committee trying to pull the project together.

"The big thing right now is keeping the building heated, the lights on, and the opportunity there so that we can do this."

This building is in amazing shape, it's really something.- Barry Galloway, ONE Change

Barry Galloway, executive director of the ONE Change community group, said the old school is in "amazing shape."

"It's really quite something," he said.

"It's really about building the capacity of the whole neighbourhood. And what are our needs in the community and how can we use this facility to its fullest potential."

ONE Change has received a $40,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study.

Galloway said the health centre is key to the proposal. He points to an aging population in the city's north end along with high rates of diabetes and autism among young people.

A section of the school is currently being used for English second language training for refugees from Syria, an activity Galloway hopes can continue under the plan. 

He believes it will cost about $90,000 per year to run the building.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure oversees provincial assets. A spokesperson says the department has not yet made a decision on the future of the former school.