Amherstburg's town hall could be moving. Here's one developer's pitch

A local developer is pitching Amherstburg, Ont.,council on moving the area's town hall into an old school.

Two years after General Amherst High School closed its doors, developer Peter Valente is suggesting that the town move itsadministrative offices into the facility. Valente's companybought the high school after the public school board put it up for sale late last year.

Valente will make his formal proposal tonight at Amherstburg's town council meeting. On Monday, he spoke with CBC's Windsor Morning about the idea.

"Our proposal is to keep parts of the school, like the historical facade," said Valente.

"The portion of the school that is facing the park, that's the original facade of the school that would potentially become Amherstburg's new town hall."

LISTEN |Developer, Amherstburg mayor speak with CBC's Windsor Morning

Windsor Morning8:31Could an old high school become Amherstburg's new town hall? Developer pitches idea

Could an old high school become Amherstburg's new town hall? A developer is pitching the idea, which will be considered by town council tonight.

But Valente sees the property as holding more than just the town hall. Though he's not sharing his full plans just yet, he says he sees the space as also having residential and commercial uses.

Amherstburg mayor Michael Pruesaysthe town will be required to make their current space accessible by 2030. Currently, the town hall is located at 271 Sandwich Street.

"It would be a daunting task to make it accessible ... there's no elevators, there's no ramp," he said.

"It's just not doable, so we're looking for a new space and we're looking at a possible build and then this idea came along, so we're very happy to look at it."

He added that thecurrent town hall doesn't have up-to-date technology andistoo small.

"Our staff is spread out all around the town.We would like to get a lot more synergy by having them together. The council chamber is too small for most of the meetings we have, which are usually overflowing."

According to Prue, council is waiting to hear from Valente tonight regarding what thiswould cost. But he saidhe knowsthree options are available: lease the space, lease to own the space or buy it outright.

After looking at the numbers tonight, Prue said,council will decide on what works best.

The report headed to council notes that Valente wants to begin construction on the site in 2026 and hopes town council makes a decision by this November.