A new multi-million dollar residential-development on the Harrow Junior School site has cleared its final hurdle.
Essex Town Council approved zoning for 17 semi-detached homes costing roughly $300,000 a piece Monday night. The school — on the corner of Centre St. E. and Arthur St. N. — closed its doors way back in 2012 and the property remained in limbo until a private developer purchased the land in 2016.
After some public consultation; Ward 4 Councillor Sherry Bondy says the town is satisfied the project will address several issues in Harrow.
"People are breaking into the windows, there's graffiti, there's long grass. I'm hoping that, once the shovels get in the ground, all of those problems will go away," she says. "We're in dire need of housing in Harrow, so it solves that problem as well. I'm hoping our community will be really happy with council's decision tonight."
She says it will be a welcome option for Harrow’s senior residents and others looking to join the community when they retire.
"For people in our community that want to live and retire in our community, there are some people that have big homesteads that want to stay in Harrow and this is going to suit their needs really well," she says.
Bondy says work will get underway immediately, but the completion date has yet to be announced.
According to a report brought before council, the town will contribute around $150,000 towards ensuring sewers and drainage can handle the new homes.