The 81-bed residence will be built on seven properties along Grafton and Cumberland streets and consist of two and three bedroom units.
The project was contingent on the city to make three amendments to their bylaw including height variance, consolidation of lots and rezoning.
This reading was more of a formality as these items were considered a month ago when council put it to a vote. The first, second and third reading were passed unanimously.
“For Holland College, it is in their hands now,” said Coun. Greg Rivard, chair of the planning and heritage committee.
Holland College vice-president, Michael O'Grady, said it was a condition of sale that these applications be approved by the city in order to move forward.
“It is the college’s intentions now to move to closing on the property,” said O’Grady. “From this point, we can now go back to the seller and say the conditions of the sale have been met on our end and we can close the real estate transaction.”
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O’Grady hopes to close this transaction this week. When that is complete, they will have the ability to speak directly with the tenants- something they are looking forward to.
“Up until now, our conversations with the tenants have been at the level of statement of our intentions. We did not have any legal authority because we were not their landlords,” said O’Grady.
Once Holland College becomes the owner of the buildings and properties, O’Grady said they intend to meet with the tenants and discuss the timelines for the project and the next steps.
He said they are committed to assisting the residential tenants with finding alternative accommodations in addition to assisting them on moving day.
They also do not intend to collect rent during the period of notice.
City officials said they appreciate that the college will not be collecting rent from the current tenants.
“It’s a nice story for Holland College to do that because an applicant or developer don’t have to do that, but as I said, there is very much a humane side of this application that city council can’t deal with, but Holland College has taken it upon themselves to go the extra mile,” said Rivard.
O’Grady said they hope to get the shovels in the ground in early July.
O’Grady said they currently have 165 students on the wait list for Glendenning Hall for this coming fall.
“We have a significant need for student accommodations.”
O’Grady anticipates that the new residence will be complete by next summer and open to students in the fall of 2018.
