A downtown development will help fund enhancements to the future Ecole Qayqayt Elementary School.
City council has approved an amenity contribution of $115,337 from the developer of The Elliot to fund enhancements to the fence, pathway and playground at the new elementary school being built downtown.
“These improvements will benefit the future residents of The Elliot, residents in the downtown and particularly the future students at the elementary school,” said a staff report.
According to the report, the funds will be used to provide pathways between the lower play area, the upper play terrace and the parking ($40,000), to provide landscaping enhancements to the school yard play areas ($35,000), and to upgrade a chain-link fence around the childcare play area and kindergarten play area ($30,000 to $35,000).
The contributions will also help fund a proposed public art/commemorative feature, such as a welcoming pole in honour of the Qayqayt nation, and/or an installation that would commemorate St. Mary’s Hospital's long history on the school site.
“It’s right there in the neighbourhood,” Coun. Betty McIntosh told The Record. “The park was to be developed anyhow. Once the new residents are there, it will be ideal to walk over there.”
The Elliot development at 188 Agnes St. contains 121 units in an 18-storey tower and townhouses.
Bev Grieve, the city’s director of development services, said the city collected all of the funds from a volunteer amenity contribution through Euro Pacific, the original developer of The Elliot.
The amenity contribution from The Elliot was originally destined to go toward the lower Elliott Street pedestrian connection, as well as contribution to a city-serving amenity project to be determined at a later date. When the developer of a residential project at 125 Columbia St. completed the pedestrian connection as part of an off-site servicing requirement, the amenity funds from The Elliott became available for reallocation. Council approved the reallocation of funds at its Jan. 13 meeting.
