Allowed densities increased at affordable housing project at Oshawa’s Ritson Road School

Oshawa has agreed to bump up the allowable density at the site of the former Ritson Road Public School, the future home of a major affordable housing project.

The sale of the then-99-year-old school to the Region of Durham was completed two years ago, with the Region expected to preserve the neo-gothic heritage qualities of the building while converting it into affordable housing.

Durham has held a series of public meetings since then, asking the public what they would like to see at the school, which closed in 2012 after 89 years of service when the Durham District School Board closed three schools – Ritson Road, Duke of Edinburgh and Harmony (which was also built in 1923) – and consolidated the students at Clara Hughes Public School, which was built on the Duke of Edinburgh site.

Oshawa approved a series of amendments Monday, with the key change allowing for higher density – up to 231 units per hectare – on the site.

The property is located inside an on-going Integrated Major Transit Station study area in central Oshawa, which generally identifies a density target of 150 to 300 people and jobs per hectare. A staff report, however, cited the City’s pledge to meet the Province’s ask of delivering 23,000 new housing units by 2031, as well as Oshawa’s own Official Plan, which targets a minimum of 25 per cent of new residential development to be affordable housing, as reasons enough to approve the higher densities.

“The encouragement of the development of affordable housing units has been expressed at every level of government,” the report noted.

Oshawa Councillor Bob Chapman said the amendments will help keep the project timelines on schedule, with designs expected this fall “so we can build next spring.”

Regional Councillor Brian Nicholson called the project a “signature redevelopment” that will “set the tone for future affordable housing projects in our city.”

“The strong support from the community,” he said in 2022, “and the leadership of both Oshawa and Regional Councils has made this project a reality and a terrific advancement for the community and the residents of Oshawa.”

The Region said when the sale was finalized the building requires some work for energy and accessibility improvements and that staff would be working on creating a ‘master plan’ to maximize the use of the facility. “This site has a lot of potential and the Region wants to ensure this opportunity is leveraged.”

Ritson Road School students circa 1956. Photo supplied by Peter Yourkevich

Ritson Road Public School was built in 1923 on a prominent rise on Ritson Road South, just north of Olive Avenue, for the sum of $54,000. The school, which saw three additions – the last in 1975 – was named after John Ritson, Oshawa’s first teacher who arrived in the area in 1820.

After sitting dormant for nine years the board started the process of selling the property in the spring of 2021. The building was first offered at fair market value to the other school boards and then to various governments and government agencies.

The price tag for the building and the 5.14-acre property was $7.49 million, with the Region taking possession January 26, 2022.

Oshawa will be holding a public meeting on development progress September 9.

Ritson Road School