Community groups are already putting forward their ideas on how Salt Spring’s Local Community Commission (LCC) should utilize the former Phoenix School property, with details on how decisions might be made still under wraps –– and despite staff indicating they are unlikely to take possession of the building before the new year.
Phoenix Elementary closed its doors at 163 Drake Rd. in 2023, due to declining enrolment and an operational budget deficit, according to school district officials; in August of this year, the LCC directed staff to express their interest in leasing the building and facilities, calling it a “valuable community asset” that LCC could manage by making it more available to smaller community organizations for varied uses.
With little public information since, several groups have informally approached individual commissioners with thoughts about how to use the space, LCC members reported at their Sept. 19 meeting. The first formal proposal also came at that meeting, when Chuan Society chair Kajin Goh suggested it be used for a winter warming space and community hub.
That delegation brought the lack of public plans –– as well as a critical timing issue –– into sharp focus for commissioners.
“To date, the only thing that’s been public is that we were putting in a proposal [to lease the property],” said LCC member Brian Webster. “And then we had budget discussions, but no public discussion beyond that.”
That’s not unreasonable, Webster said, because such proposals, lease agreements and negotiations are appropriately done during sessions that are closed to the public.
“But we’ve got to get it out in a proper, open way,” Webster said, adding he would later continue to advocate for “doing absolutely everything we can in open [sessions].”
Gulf Islands School District (SD64) staff confirmed last week they were working with the LCC through its delegated parks authority to put a five-year lease in place for the district-owned property. SD64 secretary treasurer Jesse Guy said the school district’s understanding was the island’s Capital Regional District (CRD) parks department planned to use the 6.4-acre parcel as a maintenance yard for the next 18 to 24 months, or at least while a new facility planned at Kanaka Road was being built.
“And then it will be focused on youth programming, through their parks and other community services,” said Guy, who updated school board members at their Sept. 11 meeting.
LCC member Gayle Baker told fellow commissioners she had suggested the Chuan Society make its warming space and community hub proposal known sooner rather than later –– in part to allow time for some collaboration on location. Staff suggested keeping the proposal less site-specific, as that might offer opportunities for issuing a park permit on the most appropriate CRD-held property on the island.
Goh’s initial presentation, which included addressing the needs of vulnerable islanders during the October-to-April period partly by erecting a warming tent on the Phoenix School’s basketball court, seems to have been brought both too early and too late.
Commissioners seemed keenly aware there may be metaphorical carts in front of horses concerning any specific plans for the former school, as the LCC still needed to provide staff with some direction on the process.
And the likely modeling of next steps after the Salt Spring Island Multi Space’s (SIMS) transition from middle school to community centre would involve asking for expressions of interest, holding open houses and a complete review of proposals, with staff recommendations then coming back to the LCC for a decision.
“That’s a lot of steps to work through,” said acting senior manager Dan Ovington. “I wouldn’t see that happening within the winter months, especially as currently we’re looking at potentially not taking possession of that building until January.”
In his proposal, Goh said the Chuan Society had identified about 40 people who had used earlier warming spaces, despite being displaced multiple times throughout winter months.
“It did have an impact,” said Goh. “We had a point of contact to get aid to people; we had peer support workers and health workers coming by. It had a significant impact on this population that we’re talking about.”
LCC members said they would work with staff to get a Phoenix property planning process into a public agenda, possibly as soon as the next meeting in October, and hopefully facilitate the park permit process in the meantime.
“Once the supportive housing facility is constructed on Drake Road, that could be ready for next winter,” said LCC member and CRD director Gary Holman. “But we have an issue for this winter.”