Downtown Oshawa parking lot to be sold to unknown developer

An unsolicited proposal to develop a small parking lot on the north side of Athol Street in downtown Oshawa has caught the eye of councillors, with the city’s Economic and Development Services Committee voting to endorse the as yet unnamed developer as the successful proponent.

The parking lot, located across the street from the former downtown Tim Hortons restaurant and a stone’s throw from City Hall, is a city-owned property that also serves as a delivery area for shops on King Street East and Simcoe Street South.

Committee chair Tito-Dante Marimpietri said he initially wasn’t “particularly interested” in divesting the lot because of the impact on the overall parking infrastructure in the core but the prospective seller made a decent offer, prompting city staff to market the site.

The committee decision to declare the parking lot surplus and endorse the proposal (and waive the city’s usual Real Estate Acquisition and Disposition by-law) will still have to be voted on at Council.

No details as the nature of the proposal or the winning bidder’s name have been released.