Sale of land to province paves way for work to begin on new Sherwood school

Plans for a new elementary school in Sherwood to be built besidethe existing60-year-old school can now move forward.

Charlottetown council has agreed to sell the property behind the Cody Banks Arena in Sherwood after deferring the decision last week making it possible for the province to set plans for the new school in motion.

Coun. Terry Bernard, chair of finance, tendering and audit with the city, said the decision was initially deferred becausesome members of council wanted time to consider all the possible implications of the sale. Tuesday night, the recommendation to sell the land passed unanimously.

"We know that the province is trying to get going on this," said Bernard.

"We know from the January meeting what their plans were. So there is no need to hold it up."

'Fantastic project'

This land was the province's first choice for the new Sherwood school because it would allow the current school to remain open during the construction of the new one, Infrastructure Minister Steven Myerstold CBC last week.

Bernard saidthe province and the city had the value of the property assessed, andthe parties agreed upon$158,000 for the land.

He said the landwill be used as a place to store materials and equipment while construction is underway and will be turned into a sports field once construction of the new school is complete.

"I grew up in Sherwood, I went to the school," said Bernard.

"Obviously the school needs to be replaced, and I think it's a fantastic project. I think it's great for the community, and I understand that from the footprint that it's going to be a pretty big school.So I think the province is building for the future, which I think is a great idea."

Future of Cody Banks Arena uncertain

Part of the original motion dealing with the land sale gave the province the right of first refusal on purchasing Cody Banks Arena, if the city were to sell it in the future.

That detail isn't included in the latest agreement.Bernard said a discussion on first right of refusal will be deferred until more is known about next steps for two of the city's aging arenas: Cody Banks Arena and Simmons Arena.

Bernard said right now,the city has a tenderout for consultantsto look at the potential for a multi-purpose facility.

Once potential costs associated with that project are determined, in addition to potential funding sources, the future of the arena will be clearer.

No one from the province was available Wednesday to confirm what the new school might look like,or when work might get started.

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