The Ledo Hotel is too small to accommodate a school of architecture that requires 75,000 square feet of space, according to Laurentian University’s chief of staff.
Speculation is running rampant after the city identified it will look at purchasing land at 300 Elgin Street, and 233, 241 and 247 Shaughnessy Street. The Ledo Hotel is located in the midst of these properties, spurring rumours and questions about the city’s intentions with this land, especially after a group of market vendors and other concerned citizens forged the Best Option committee and identified the Ledo Hotel site as the best possible location for the school of architecture.
It is not known whether the potential sale of the land to be discussed by the city’s planning committee has any connection with Laurentian’s bid to purchase land currently occupied by Market Square, but Chris Mercer clarified the university’s proposal to the city still stands.
The discussion will take place Nov. 1 behind closed doors.
Meanwhile, the city is expected to make its final decision on the future of Market Square on Nov. 9.
Laurentian has offered to pay fair market value (estimated at about $1 million) for the property located near the intersection of Elgin and Elm streets, as well as $2 million to help build a new Market Square, putting a potential $3 million on the table to construct a new market. The school is also open to the idea of co-location with market vendors, Laurentian University president Dominic Giroux said at a presentation to city council earlier this month. He said he is confident a deal can be worked out within that $3-million price range.
Many other sites were considered as the potential home to the school of architecture; however, all but the Market Square site was rejected as unsuitable for a school of architecture. The Ledo Hotel property was not included in the list of potential sites.
Laurentian remains adamant in its stance that there is room for both the school of architecture and the market on the Market Square property.
Laurentian’s proposal envisions a new, all-season market facility, Mercer said, and added Laurentian is not steering the process of determining where the market should ultimately be located, but has clearly indicated a willingness to share the existing property.
Posted by Jenny Jelen
