Ottawa Politicians Demand Transparency in Vacant School Property Sale
Ottawa West-Nepean MPP Chandra Pasma and College ward Councillor Laine Johnson have voiced strong objections after discovering that the former Grant Alternative School on Draper Avenue has been quietly listed for sale without community consultation. The elected officials learned about the commercial listing when residents reported a For Sale sign appearing at the vacant property.
Community Excluded from Decision-Making Process
Councillor Johnson, who has been discussing vacant school sites with Ottawa residents since 2024, expressed frustration at the lack of transparency. "It was very unfortunate to find out this way," Johnson stated. "We don't know what it will be sold for, and there's zero community engagement with the municipality or with the neighbours."
MPP Pasma, who serves as the NDP education critic in the Ontario legislature, emphasized that "This is public land. It was bought and maintained by taxpayers." She criticized the process for lacking transparency, noting that the provincially-appointed supervisor for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) isn't required to hold public meetings, and elected trustees no longer make decisions about such properties.
Regulatory Changes Enable Property Disposal
The sale follows regulatory amendments to the Education Act implemented in June 2025, which allow Ontario's education minister to direct school boards to dispose of properties under specific circumstances. These include situations where school boards have accumulated deficits. As of November 2025, the OCDSB reported a cumulative deficit of $12.1 million, which it must begin repaying to the provincial government.
Pasma highlighted the departure from normal procedures: "It was privately listed by a private real-estate firm, rather than following the normal process that would be done by an elected school board, where there would be discussion in a public meeting that could have been attended by the public."
Development Potential and Community Vision
The 5.53-acre property, which contains 25,000 square feet of usable space including offices, classrooms, and a gymnasium, presents significant development opportunities. Its proximity to the Pinecrest LRT station, part of Stage 2 of the Confederation Line, enhances its appeal for various uses.
Johnson outlined several potential community benefits that could be realized with proper consultation:
- Affordable housing development
- Healthcare facility expansion
- Recreation and community center
- Mixed-use institutional and residential zoning
"Zoning policies now at the City of Ottawa would likely allow you to have housing and an institutional use both on the same site," Johnson explained. "So there's a lot of potential here, and, unfortunately, we've been cut out of the process."
Property Details and Market Position
The commercial listing with Avison Young describes the existing school structure as being in good condition and notes the Redwood-Graham Park community is undergoing transition with planned development. The property is currently zoned institutional, and the listing suggests buyers might retain the school for institutional purposes or pursue redevelopment.
The former Grant Alternative School closed in June 2017 and served temporarily as a COVID-19 assessment center for Queensway Carleton Hospital during the pandemic. The current listing does not include an asking price, leaving community members and elected officials uncertain about the property's valuation and potential future use.
Both politicians continue to advocate for greater community involvement in decisions regarding publicly-owned properties, emphasizing that taxpayer-funded assets should serve public interests through transparent, inclusive processes.
