As alluded to last month by outgoing city manager Wendell Graves, the vacant Wellington Street Public School may soon have a new tenant.
The city is negotiating with St. Joseph’s Health Care which is interested in leasing the first and second floors of the school built in 1898.
It is seeking to move its Elgin Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams from the present Talbot Street office to the school.
To accommodate the ACT teams, renovations will be required to the property which is historically designated. City council approved the alterations at its March 21 meeting. The renovations also include the installation of a new HVAC system.
As recently as three years ago, the city had considered converting the classrooms into residential units.
The 26 health care providers and support staff offer specialized, intensive, community-based services to adults living with severe, complex and persistent mental illness.
Currently, 265 clients receive care through these outreach services, which serve St. Thomas and Elgin county with more than 8,000 visits annually.
A St. Joseph’s Health Care spokesperson advised there are no plans to hire additional staff for the Wellington facility.
Written by Ian McCallum
