The former Bayview Public School building in Owen Sound that has sat vacant since 2017 is going to be put to use.
City council granted approval at its meeting Monday to a conditional site plan agreement with Heritage Community Living at Lakeview Inc., which is proposing to convert the former elementary school on 6th Street ‘A’ East to a wellness and treatment facility.
According to a city staff report, the facility will be leased and operated by Grey Bruce Health Services (GBHS).
Interior alterations to the existing building, reconfiguration of site access and parking to accommodate the new use, outdoor patio areas and privacy fencing are included in the development proposal.
Owen Sound’s director of community services Pam Coulter told councillors at Monday’s meeting the wellness and treatment facility will include a crisis residence consisting of 40 beds.
“The facility is not designed or intended for the treatment of emergencies and acute cases,” a report to council about the proposed development explains. “These types of cases would continue to be treated within the mental health unit at the Owen Sound Hospital.”
The proposed new facility would also include clinic and counselling services provided by psychiatrists and nurse practitioners. Training and skills development such as computer and occupational training, fitness, and culinary education will also be offered in four classrooms at the site.
GBHS Director of Mental Health Services Naomi Vodden told city councillors on Monday the wellness and treatment centre would be a mental health and addictions recovery program for those struggling with addiction. She says it will focus on increasing quality of life by decreasing barriers such as housing, employment and education.
Vodden says GBHS currently operates a three-week withdrawal management program on 9th Avenue East, and those services would be re-located to the Bayview site. She says clients of the wellness centre may live there for longer periods — for about six months to two years — to help them get back on a more solid footing in their lives.
The potential construction timeline and target date for when the facility may be operational was not discussed.
Bayshore Broadcasting News reached out to GBHS for additional information, but was unable to schedule an interview prior to publication time.
The former Bayview Public School closed permanently in 2017. According to a past Bayshore Broadcasting report, the Bluewater District School Board sold the property in 2019 for $808,300 to realtor Bill Stobbe.
Heritage Community Living at Lakeview, the applicant proposing to convert the former school into a wellness and treatment facility, purchased the property from Stobbe earlier this year for an undisclosed amount.