Lively school developer says plans jeopardized by city sidewalk demands

A Sudbury developer is blaming the city for delays that have turned the site of his planned housing complex into an eyesore.

Seeley Homes got approval two years ago to turn the old Jessie Hamilton school in Lively into a 55-unit apartment complex, which the company plans to market to seniors, plus five single family homes in the school yard.

But the city wants the developer to put in sidewalks, curbs and storm sewers on the portions of Jessie and Patricia Streets bordering the school.

President Kevin Seeley said "urbanizing" those streets will cost about $144,000 and that will make his multi-milion-dollar development unprofitable.

"Costs became a staggering amount and has placed the project in jeopardy," Seeley told the planning committee Monday night. 

"There needs to be a partnership in development."

The councillor for the area, Michael Vagnini of Ward 2, urged his colleagues to drop the street improvement requirement.

"I think we're in dire need of that, because if you take a look at the Jessie Hamilton school at the present time, it's in very, very bad shape. And it really is an eyesore," he said.

Seeley instead offered to chip in $30,000 towards sidewalk construction, appeasing some councillors who were mostly concerned with providing some kind of pedestrian infrastructure.

But councillors were frustrated by some confusing cost figures being thrown around and a lack of clear information, including some that was introduced to them during the meeting. So, in the end, the committee voted to put off a decision until its next meeting on May 25.