A new agreement has been reached for the sale of the former St. Joseph鈥檚 Elementary School in Chemainus, but several conditions must still be met before it鈥檚 finalized.
The property owner, the Catholic Independent Schools of the Diocese of Victoria, has confirmed the purchase of the building and a portion of the surrounding land by Vancouver-based Influent Group for $2.5 million.
鈥淲hether or not it will close and complete is unknown,鈥� conceded Leah MacKenzie, chief financial officer of the diocese. 鈥淲e have entered into the agreement, but not a done deal.鈥�
The sale will involve subdividing the school property of 6.4 acres while the diocese will retain 1.5 acres for the current All Saints Parish, rectory and parking. The proceeds of $850,000-$1M, depending on date of completion, will go toward paying the St. Joseph鈥檚 School debt, with the balance of approximately $1.5M going to the All Saints Parish.
The St. Joseph鈥檚 School closed in June of 2018. Since then, it鈥檚 been used for artist studios and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the gymnasium. The current occupants have been informed of the deal, but given notice of at least a year before having to potentially vacate.
A previous sale to the Cowichan Valley Intentional Recovery Community Society in May of 2021 for $850,000 for the school and 6.84 acres of surrounding land, with 1.1 acres retained for the church and rectory, fell through a year later in May of 2022. The CVIRCS had planned to establish a women鈥檚 addiction recovery facility at the site.
鈥淭hey just couldn鈥檛 make the numbers work,鈥� explained MacKenzie.
The purchaser found the development costs too exorbitant and couldn鈥檛 meet municipal requirements.
Influent Group is a developer of master-planned communities and projects, including residential, commercial and mixed-use developments.
The master plan for this site must work within the North Cowichan Official Community Plan鈥檚 Village Residential Designation.
鈥淭hey have to make sure everything they want to do is do-able,鈥� said MacKenzie.
North Cowichan鈥檚 director of planning Rob Conway said he hasn鈥檛 yet heard anything directly about the sale.
鈥淭he OCP is sort of a guideline,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚t would still have to go through a rezoning process.鈥�
In order to conform, the developer would have to build significant new housing and commercial uses to cater to local needs. The commercial spaces could include small retail units, store, cafe, day care or others and the residential plan is for multifamily, such as apartments and condominiums co-existing with townhouses.
Subdividing the property and receiving municipal approvals are the main conditions that must be met for the sale to proceed. It鈥檚 expected to take a year but potentially up to two years for that to happen, but the next 60 days are seen as the most crucial in satisfying some of the conditions.
鈥淓arly August is when we anticipate to have a bit more confirmation that things are looking positive,鈥� said MacKenzie.
Paying off the school debt that鈥檚 been lingering for years before the former St. Joseph鈥檚 School closed is paramount for the diocese.
鈥淓very year it doesn鈥檛 get cheaper,鈥� said MacKenzie. 鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful we have community groups renting the place. It鈥檚 wonderful people are using it so it鈥檚 not sitting vacant.鈥�
But it鈥檚 always been the primary goal to dispense of the property while making sure there was enough left over from the proceeds to further enhance the church for parishioners.
鈥淲e want to see it utilized to its highest and best use for the community,鈥� said MacKenzie.
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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