Future use of 101-year-old former Oshawa school subject of July 31 Zoom meeting

The future of the former Ritson Road School will in the spotlight once again Wednesday, with the public invited to a virtual community engagement session from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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.

The next meeting will be July 31, with the Region welcoming residents to learn about the Ritson School Project, ask questions, and explore ideas for the pedestrian-oriented open spaces on the 5.14-acre property, located at 300 Ritson Rd. S.

The meeting will be held via Zoom at bit.ly/3S2gk46.

The property, according to the Region, is an “opportunity to help meet the current and future needs of residents through affordable and market-rent housing, and community programming.”

Durham 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 use of the facility. “This site has a lot of potential and the Region wants to ensure this opportunity is leveraged.”

Oshawa Councillor Bob Chapman said recent amendments to bump up allowed densities to 231 units per hectare keep the project timelines on schedule, with designs expected this fall “so we can build next spring,” while also helping the City meet its provincially-imposed housing targets.

Fellow 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.”

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.

For more information on the Ritson School Project, visit durham.ca/RitsonSchool.