It would be the first public high school built in London in decades, and it’s being proposed for the northern edge of London. But if the plan falls through, the parcel of land could instead become home to much needed housing in the form of several mid-rise apartment buildings and stacked townhomes, according to Ward 7 City Coun. Corrine Rahman. “So just for the high school, or this new configuration of more of a medium density build, where initially residents in the area were informed that it was going to be a subdivision, and more single-family and townhouses,” she explained. Landea Developments has requested rezoning of 1196 Sunningdale Rd. W. A notice of planning application proposes building a public secondary school. However, at this point, the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) has not received funding to acquire the lands, nor has it been approved for construction of a new school. If a high school plan does go ahead, the institution would front onto Sunningdale, while the southern portion of the property backs onto a busy residential neighbourhood made up mostly of single-family homes. But it’s also just a short walk away from an existing public school, Sir Arthur Currie, and another public elementary school now under construction. TVDSB Education Director Bill Tucker said the board’s challenge is that the province looks at existing demographics when approving new school-builds, rather than looking ahead. “Municipalities can plan on projections. School boards have to plan on bums in seats. What are the current enrolment projections for the immediate short term. That’s the dichotomy under which we live,” explained Tucker. If the high school plan falls through, the developer proposes building 626 residential units made up of seven mid-rise apartment buildings, various townhouses and stacked townhouses, along with a number of freehold residential properties. “The need for a secondary school is quite important to the area, so I’m supportive of that continued conversation,” said Rahman. “The additional units that are proposed, 626, the way the preliminary design has come in, I have some questions and some concerns. I think that the way it’s orientated could look differently. It’s a lot of parking, it’s a lot of concrete,” she said. Rahman said the public has until June 9 to provide input on the proposals. A full planning report will come before city council committees in the coming months.
