City council approves condos in former Hillcrest High School

Thunder Bay city council has approved a plan to turn the former Hillcrest High School into condominiums during Monday night's meeting.

Council unanimously supported the project, which calls for 75 condo units and two non-retail commercial spaces. Most of the units will cost $200,000 or less, with a premium on those with a view of Lake Superior. The plan also includes 112 outside parking spaces.

• Hillcrest High School building to be converted to housing

The company behind the development, Hillcrest Neighbour Village Inc., said housing is the best use for the building. The former school has been home to a number of organizations and small businesses since it was converted to the Centre of Change in 2011.

"We kept going back to the drawing board, back to the drawing board to see how we could get it right. [The] planning department encouraged us to keep looking at residential and we did that," said Robert Zanette, a project team member from Hillcrest Neighbour Village Inc.

Zanette said the project will benefit the city by increasing "affordable" housing stock, as well as add to the rental market if owners choose to rent out their units. 

Several conditions

However, Coun. Rebecca Johnson wants to make sure the condominium conforms with accessibility regulations for people with disabilities.

It's accessible from the south side and plans call for the installation of an elevator, Zanette said.

City staff had also recommended several conditions as it was urging council to approve the plan.

The conditions include requiring the company to plant rows of trees along the High St. and Van Norman St. frontages, set up mailboxes and install proper garbage storage.

The project will see the current space converted into condos in phases over the next three years. 

Construction has already begun, said Zanette, and a grand opening is expected shortly.