Ritson School redevelopment project still underway in Oshawa

The long-ongoing Ritson School redevelopment has taken another step forward.

Durham Region bought the more than 100-year-old structure back in 2022 for almost $7.5 million. The plan was to preserve the neo-gothic heritage structure and renovate it into affordable housing.

Ritson Road School was built in 1923 and expended in 1928. It held classes until it was shut down in 2012. However, it was preserved as a heritage site in 2019.

The school sits by the intersection with Olive Avenue, just a couple of blocks north of the Highway 401 on-ramp. The neighbourhood is filled with detached homes.

The school structure itself will contain “a hub for community programs and services designed to address the needs of the residents, agencies, City of Oshawa, and the Regional Municipality of Durham.”

Additionally, much of the rest of the more than 5 acre land will be dedicated to new affordable housing units.

This contributes to the Region’s goal of adding 1,000 affordable units but they number of units to that will be built on the site remains undecided

A recent community needs assessment found the site should house;

• New affordable and market housing, including one and two-bedroom units, as well as support programs.
• Child care, educational, training or recreational programs, as well as services for youth and sole-caregiver families.
• Opportunities for on-site public open space.

In their final meeting for the summer on June 26, the Region approved a Request for Expression of Interest to gauge developer interest in working on the project. However, the request has not yet been publically released.

The Region set several development goals such as “affordable housing creation, urban design, public open space, phasing, placemaking, heritage preservation and climate resiliency.”

“The Ritson School Project is an opportunity to create a vibrant community that is inclusive, connected and age-friendly, with a mix of housing options,” Durham wrote.