Jam space future uncertain as townhouses coming to historic school in Oshawa’s south end

An historic former school that predates Oshawa’s incorporation as a city will be saved, while the fate of the metalheads and other budding rock stars who currently use the 103-year-old one-time Cedardale School in the city’s south end as a rehearsal space is still to be determined.

The rest of the property at 827 Gordon Street will be turned into a townhouse complex if a development proposal gets ultimate approval.

Cedardale School was one of eight elementary schools in Oshawa in 1924 when the town earned ‘city’ status and served as a public school for more than 80 years, with the final year as Bobby Orr Public School before a new school was built a few blocks to the south where Simcoe Street meets Ritson Road.

The former Cedardale School is now Melody Rehearsals

Since then the building – declared a heritage site by the city last year – has been used as a jam space for local musicians – first as the Rehearsal Space and now as Melody Rehearsal – but that future is unclear, though what is known is the original two-storey Beaux Arts building will be preserved and be used for “community, institutional and commercial uses.”

Four block townhouses and 63 stacked townhouses will be built on the property while the annex and other additions on the north side of the school dating from 1927, 1928 and 1960 “do not possess cultural heritage value or contain heritage attributes” and will be demolished.

Vaughan-based Weston Consulting has submitted a Heritage Impact Assessment to ensure the heritage attributes of the building will not be adversely affected by the development.

Oshawa staff will now review the proposal and report back to the Economic and Development Services Committee before any further action is taken.