CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The City of Charlottetown is consulting legal counsel in an effort to ensure the former Prince Edward Island Hospital property reverts to green space.
The demolition of the health facility wrapped up recently at a cost of $3 million to the provincial coffers, about $700,000 over budget.
The province also incurred an extra $500,000 expense in remediating the site around an old oil tank, which resulted in the removal of 2,400 tonnes of contaminated soil.
A spokeswoman with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal said the department still has finishing work to do in the spring to return the land to green space, so the final bill isn’t in yet.
The province owns the property the old hospital sat on, but the city unanimously supported a resolution this past year to have the old hospital property revert to green space following the demolition.
However, Mayor Philip Brown said this week the province has informed the city that it has put down some millings to expand the parking lot behind the Aubin Arsenault Building on Brighton Road, which was located next to the old hospital. He said up to 40 new parking spots have been created.
“So, we contacted our city solicitor to look into the Victoria Park Act,’’ Brown said. “It was (supposed) to turn back to green space. They’re paving it, and we’re being told there is an extension to the parking lot. The millings mean it’s going to be used for something other than just green space. They’re covering up the green space (and) we want to ensure that that turns back into green space that would allow us to look at a bigger plan for Victoria Park for recreational purposes.’’
So, we contacted our city solicitor to look into the Victoria Park Act. It was (supposed) to turn back to green space. They’re paving it, and we’re being told there is an extension to the parking lot. The millings mean it’s going to be used for something other than just green space. They’re covering up the green space (and) we want to ensure that that turns back into green space that would allow us to look at a bigger plan for Victoria Park for recreational purposes.’’
- Mayor Philip Brown
Coun. Mike Duffy, who represents the residents in the Brighton area, said his residents won’t take too kindly to news that a parking lot has expanded onto the footprint that was supposed to become part of Victoria Park.
“We want green space and green space only,’’ Duffy said.
Transportation Minister Steven Myers said before the old hospital structure was demolished, the province parked some of its vehicles behind the building and that the millings Brown refers to are merely an effort by his department to reclaim the spots they had prior to the demolition.
“That’s all that is, spots that we lost during the demolition so that we have the same number of parking spaces that we had before,’’ Myers said Tuesday.
Beyond that, Myers said his department wants to collaborate with the city and has already had meetings with senior administration officials, with regard to the rest of the old hospital property.
“Everything is on the table,’’ the minister said. “There are no closed doors on any idea. We just want to find out what the city wants to move forward on. At this point, the plan is to revert it to green space, and I think there’s some interest in a public gardens area.’’
Myers said the province also wants to work with the city on other properties the province owns but which the city may have use for, such as affordable housing projects, a new fire station or recreational needs.
Coun. Alanna Jankov, who represents the area, said it’s important to keep discussions going between the two levels of government.
“I’m sure everyone has their own ideas of what they would like to see for this property but, ultimately, it is the decision of the province,’’ Jankov said. “As we head into 2020, I look forward to discussing the future plans for that property with the province and bringing that discussion to my (strategic priorities and intergovernmental co-operation) committee.’’
Myers acknowledges the province has significant parking challenges when it comes to the Aubin Arsenault Building, as well as the nearby provincial government buildings.
“We do have lots of parking pressures ... but we have lots of methods we’re going to try and look at in the new year, like getting people to use (transit) buses to try and alleviate the pressure,’’ Myers said.
Coun. Mitchell Tweel, who chairs the city’s parks and recreation committee, said the community is adamant the footprint of Victoria Park expand.
He also thinks it’s time the province gave serious thought to building a two-tiered parking garage at the provincial government buildings.
“They cannot continue to ignore the fact that they have a major parking deficit,’’ Tweel said.
