Former St. Pat's-Alexandra site finally sold to Jono Developments

After years of court wrangling, the former St.Patrick's-Alexandra school property in north-end Halifax will besold to the same developer who first tried to buy it five years ago.

Jono Developments Ltd. will purchase the property from the Halifax Regional Municipality for $3.63 million, the city announced Thursday.

"The best word to describe it is relieved," said Joe Metlege, the president of Jono Developments Ltd.

"It's been a long time coming."

The sale ends a long standing legal matter that saw the potential sale of the former school go through several court proceedings involving Jono Developments, the Halifax Regional Municipality and community groups opposed to the sale.

Long court battle

The Halifax Regional School Board declared the school surplus in 2008 and closed it in 2011. The municipality took possession of it and sold it to Jono Developments for $3 million.

Several community groups, working as the North Central Community Council Association, learned about a city policy passed in 2000 that had never been usedoutlining how to dispose of schools.

So they challenged the sale in court and a judge struck down the deal in September 2012. Jono Developments appealed that ruling, and the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal ruled with Jono Developmentsin October 2014.

In the midst of those court proceedings, Jono Developments also sued the Halifax Regional Municipality over how they handled the sale. Metlege said Thursday that lawsuit is no longer active.

'We're pleased'

In a statement Thursday, the city said the purchase price is based on the original agreement price of $3 million, adjusted to current market value.

"We're pleased to have reached an agreement that satisfies both council's direction to move forward with the sale of the property to Jono Developments at fair market value, and settles an outstanding legal action regarding this property with the purchaser," Martin Ward, a lawyer for the city, said in a statement.

Jono Developments Ltd. wants to turn the school site, located at 2277 Maitland St., into a mixed residential and commercial building. Metlege said its look will depend on the larger vision for the city, known as the centre plan.

Demolition date unsure

"We have to wait for the centre plan to be passed and approved and ratified, and then we will have a rule book," he said. "Once that is in place, then we can speak to the community about what is and what isn't possible."

He said he isn't sure when the building will be demolished.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we take the building down before the centre plan is completed," said Metlege. "One thing that is for certain is that there is nothing that is going to be reused from that structure."