Fences are up around the former Prince of Wales Public School with signs that say 'construction zone' and 'danger due to demolition.'
HIP Developments had applied to the city last July for a permit to 'selectively demolish' parts of the former elementary school on Bradford Street but preserve three facades to be incorporated into future parkland.
The Prince of Wales Public School was built in 1876 and was the oldest elementary school in the Simcoe County District School Board before it was deemed 'Prohibitive to Repair' and closed in 2011.
"Demolition permits for both Prince of Wales and Barrie Central have been issued," confirmed the city's Senior Communications Advisor Scott Lamantia.
HIP Developments bought the former elementary school and the former Barrie Central High School in 2016 and plans to build 'premier residential rentals' at the site located at the corner of Dunlop Street West and Bradford Street.
Members of council were advised in a Sept. 18 memo that a Demolition Permit application with a letter of intention to selectively demolish building additions at the 50 Bradford Street site were received on July 26, 2017.
'The areas to be demolished include the two-storey addition on the west side of the original building; the gymnasium addition, and the vestibule that connects the gymnasium addition to the original school building. These buildings are in poor condition due to lack of maintenance over the years and pose a safety and health risk,' reads the memo from a senior city planner.
The developer intends to protect the outer walls and foundations of the original Prince of Wales building from further deterioration this winter, and will work with City staff to incorporate the south, east and west facades into a future parkland setting as part of proposed development for the subject site and adjacent lands.
The property is listed as a non-designated property on the Municipal Heritage Register (referred to as a listed property).
In a letter to the building department, HIP Developments Vice President Randy Renouf said the existing building was not maintained prior to their purchase in 2016 and he listed a series of issues.
The existing roof has leaked for many years with evidence on the second floor ceiling and floor, he said. One classroom's ceiling was totally collapsed, draping down to the floor level.
'We are confident that roof, soffits, floors are damaged with concerns of wall cavity, window sills, and brick mortar experiencing the same problems. Over the last year there have been additional water leaks in the basement, flooding and evidence of mold."
HIP told the building department it hopes to infill the basement of the existing school with granular material to protect the existing foundation and walls during this winter.
"Our future development plans are to integrate parts of the existing school into a parkland setting.Those parts would be the exterior wall structures," said Ranouf.
