After seven years of sitting unused, the former Kanata Elementary School property may be developed into residential housing in the coming months.
The Prince Rupert School District (SD52) board of education recently accepted an offer on the site, although a sale has not yet been finalized.
Kanata Elementary School closed its doors in 2008, with the B.C. Ministry of Education approving the board of education’s request to sell the site in May.
Last week, secretary-treasurer Cam McIntyre informed board members that a number of bids had been put forward, recommending an offer from the Bryton Group be accepted.
While the board voted in favour of the submission, the sale is conditional on the Bryton Group receiving the city’s approval to rezone the site from its public use designation to a multi-family residential zoning.
“This is really exciting news and I hope everything goes well with the rezoning process,” said trustee Bart Kuntz.
“I am so hopeful that the rezoning is smooth and seamless and successful for the Bryton Group and that they become the proud owners of the Kanata property,” added board chair Tina Last.
The amount of the offer is confidential at this time, with McIntyre saying the full details of the sale would be made public if rezoning is successful.
The property was listed for $975,000.
If sold, all of the profits would be used for projects within the Prince Rupert School District, with the board of education having the authority to determine how a majority of the money would be spent.
Prince Rupert city manager Zeno Krekic said the Bryton Group has submitted its rezoning application, but a date hasn’t been set for the request to come before council. The proposed rezoning would be consistent with the City of Prince Rupert’s Official Community Plan.
Stuart Ramsay of the Bryton Group said if the company receives the required rezoning, it will commence with the remediation of the former school immediately, with fall construction being the current plan.
