A new agreement has been reached for the sale of the former St. Joseph’s Elementary School in Chemainus, but several conditions must still be met before it’s finalized.
The property owner, the Catholic Independent Schools of the Diocese of Victoria, has confirmed the purchase of the building and a portion of the surrounding land by Vancouver-based Influent Group for $2.5 million.
“Whether or not it will close and complete is unknown,” conceded Leah MacKenzie, chief financial officer of the diocese. “We have entered into the agreement, but not a done deal.”
The sale will involve subdividing the school property of 6.4 acres while the diocese will retain 1.5 acres for the current All Saints Parish, rectory and parking. The proceeds of $850,000-$1M, depending on date of completion, will go toward paying the St. Joseph’s School debt, with the balance of approximately $1.5M going to the All Saints Parish.
The St. Joseph’s School closed in June of 2018. Since then, it’s been used for artist studios and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the gymnasium. The current occupants have been informed of the deal, but given notice of at least a year before having to potentially vacate.
Related story: No decision yet on sale of St. Joseph’s School building
A previous sale to the Cowichan Valley Intentional Recovery Community Society in May of 2021 for $850,000 for the school and 6.84 acres of surrounding land, with 1.1 acres retained for the church and rectory, fell through a year later in May of 2022. The CVIRCS had planned to establish a women’s addiction recovery facility at the site.
“They just couldn’t make the numbers work,” explained MacKenzie.
Related story: Addiction recovery facility will be all about building community together
The purchaser found the development costs too exorbitant and couldn’t meet municipal requirements.
Influent Group is a developer of master-planned communities and projects, including residential, commercial and mixed-use developments.
The master plan for this site must work within the North Cowichan Official Community Plan’s Village Residential Designation.
“They have to make sure everything they want to do is do-able,” said MacKenzie.
North Cowichan’s director of planning Rob Conway said he hasn’t yet heard anything directly about the sale.
“The OCP is sort of a guideline,” he explained. “It would still have to go through a rezoning process.”
In order to conform, the developer would have to build significant new housing and commercial uses to cater to local needs. The commercial spaces could include small retail units, store, cafe, day care or others and the residential plan is for multifamily, such as apartments and condominiums co-existing with townhouses.
Subdividing the property and receiving municipal approvals are the main conditions that must be met for the sale to proceed. It’s expected to take a year but potentially up to two years for that to happen, but the next 60 days are seen as the most crucial in satisfying some of the conditions.
“Early August is when we anticipate to have a bit more confirmation that things are looking positive,” said MacKenzie.
Paying off the school debt that’s been lingering for years before the former St. Joseph’s School closed is paramount for the diocese.
“Every year it doesn’t get cheaper,” said MacKenzie. “We’re grateful we have community groups renting the place. It’s wonderful people are using it so it’s not sitting vacant.”
But it’s always been the primary goal to dispense of the property while making sure there was enough left over from the proceeds to further enhance the church for parishioners.
“We want to see it utilized to its highest and best use for the community,” said MacKenzie.
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