Former Robert Bateman High School

The report provides an update on the redevelopment and execution of the phased adaptive reuse of the former Robert Bateman High School site. The Phase 1 construction tender is anticipated to close on March 23 with a subsequent award report to Council on March 30, 2023. Parallel with this process an engagement plan will be developed to engage the public on the greenspace and future amenities needed for the park.

Standing committee and City Council meetings are held using a hybrid model, allowing members of Council, city staff and the public the option of participating remotely or in-person at city hall, 426 Brant St. Requests to delegate to this hybrid meeting can be made by completing the online delegation registration form at www.burlington.ca/delegate, by submitting a written request by email to the Office of the City Clerk at clerks@burlington.ca or by phoning 905-335-7600, ext. 7481 by noon the business day before the meeting is to be held.

At the December 8, 2022 Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee meeting, there will be a presentation on the renovation and conversion of the Robert Bateman High School property. There will be community engagement in 2023 for the use of the community spaces.

This presentation is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and if required after 6:00 p.m. Visit the calendar for more information. Here is a copy of the presentation.

A comprehensive staff report for the redesign of the adaptive reuse of the recently acquired Robert Bateman High School (RBHS) incorporating the results of a recent cost estimate, prepared by a third-party cost surveyor, along with a multi-year capital financing plan will be presented to the City’s Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services (EICS) committee on Dec. 8.

The City is repurposing the existing Robert Bateman High School into a multi-purpose community hub that will contribute significantly to the City’s major community facilities to accommodate future growth and will also help meet our objective of being net-zero carbon by 2040. The reuse and conversion of the former secondary school will be completed via interior renovations, enhancements and minor site plan modifications as part of Phase 1.

The total gross estimated cost of construction for phase 1 is $72.75 million, with a breakdown of costs below.

Along with the construction costs, staff will also present a financing plan. The financing plan proposes approximately $46 million in tax supported debt financing, with the remainder coming from non-tax supported sources which includes contributions from tenants who will be paying rent annually, and possible funding to be confirmed from the federal government.

The existing building is a two-storey, 212,000 square foot, brick-clad structure that was built in 1969, with additions completed in 1973 and 2003. The building contains community space and the Burlington Centennial Pool, which was recently renovated and will remain accessible to the community throughout the renovation.

This is a multi-phase major community investment, which will see infrastructure upgrades to build up to modern building code standards and implement net-zero carbon technologies, as well as providing space that will support future tenants on both the first and second floors. The project also will include a second phase which is the development of approximately 40,000 square feet of new City community centre space as well as new future space for community partners. The estimated cost of Phase 2 is $15 million to $20 million with the facility design to be brought back to Council following completion of public engagement.

Design features for Phase 1 include:

• Brock University educational classrooms and administration spaces.
• New expanded Burlington Library branch and programs
• New front entrance, open collaborative corridors and seating connecting the front to the rear of the facility.
• New central staircase and elevator
• Meeting room spaces
• Refreshed City operated triple gymnasium
• TechPlace Office spaces
• Halton District School Board adult program classrooms and administration spaces

Public engagement will take place in early 2023 to seek community feedback.

Quick Facts

• In June 2021, HDSB trustees approved a plan to declare the former Robert Bateman High School facility surplus to its needs and retain an interest in a portion of the facility to relocate the Burlington Gary Allan Learning Centre.
• In June 2021, the City of Burlington announced that an expression of interest would be submitted to the HDSB to purchase the Robert Bateman site through a partnership with Brock University.
• In Dec. 2021, Council provided direction to staff to submit a formal offer to purchase the Robert Bateman High School site.
• In Feb. 2022, the HDSB accepted the City’s offer to purchase the Robert Bateman High School site.
• On Feb. 3, 2022, Burlington City Council endorsed next steps to advance the potential acquisition of the Robert Bateman High School site from the HDSB.
• On Oct. 28, 2022 the City formally took ownership of the Robert Bateman property.

The City has completed a purchase agreement and land exchange transaction with the Halton District School Board (HDSB) involving the Robert Bateman High School property. In the agreement, the City purchased the Bateman property for $29.6 million, while the HDSB purchased a City owned property near Burlington Central High School, which includes the high school football field and running track, for $21.7 million. The difference in price of $7.9 million will be debt financed, with annual debt payments recovered from the City’s capital reserve funds.

This acquisition would push forward key objectives laid out in the City of Burlington’s 25-year strategic plan. Key pillars of this Plan include making Burlington a City that grows through attracting talent, good jobs and economic opportunity to the community.

Within the Bateman space, the HDSB will retain a long-term interest at the school to accommodate the Gary Allan Learning Centre. And as previously announced, Brock University will offer their Teachers Education and Applied Disabilities Studies Programs and will be developing professional and continuing studies specifically to the needs of Burlington.

In addition to the partnership with the HDSB and Brock University, the City has partnered with other institutions, ensuring that there is an adaptive reuse strategy for the Bateman site and to create a sustainable community hub which will include community rooms, a triple gym and the existing City pool. The Burlington Public Library will relocate its Appleby Line branch to this location to develop a place for learning and education and the relocation of TechPlace, a hub led by Burlington Economic Development, where the tech community can connect, develop and grow their business.

Public engagement will take place in early 2023 to seek community feedback on possible uses for the remaining space.

At the June 21 Burlington City Council meeting, Council authorized City staff to take steps to complete the purchase of the Robert Bateman High School site. In addition to the direction to purchase the site, City staff were also authorized to:

• Transfer ownership of approximately five acres of City owned-land to the Halton District School Board (HDSB) as a component of the land exchange for the Robert Bateman site. The City owned-land in question is located near Burlington Central High School and includes the high school football field and running track
• Proceed with a long-term lease of a portion of the Bateman site to the HDSB
• Proceed with the long-term lease of a portion of the Bateman site to Brock University

All matters related to the land transactions and lease arrangements are expected to be closed and completed this fall. Once all components are finalized at that time, the purchase prices will be publicly registered and released.

This acquisition would push forward key objectives laid out in the City of Burlington 25-year strategic plan. Key pillars of this Plan include making Burlington a City that grows through attracting talent, good jobs and economic opportunity to the community.

In addition to the partnership with the HDSB and Brock University, the City also plans to partner with other institutions, ensuring that there is an adaptive reuse strategy for the site and to create a sustainable community hub. This includes the Burlington Library relocating its Appleby Line branch to this location to develop a place for learning and education and the relocation of TechPlace, a hub led by Burlington Economic Development, where the tech community can connect, develop and grow their business.

Public engagement will take place in early 2023 to seek community feedback on possible uses for the remaining space.

Read Supplemental Memo to public engagement update on Robert Bateman High School land related proposals (CM-17-22) and the two appendices. This memo will serve to provide members of Council with a summary of engagement conducted after June 6, 2022 related to the above named report.

Read the supplemental memo, appendix A and Appendix B.

At the June 22 Council meeting, there will be a confidential Update on a Real Estate Matter – Robert Bateman High School Acquisition, Land Exchange and Lease Transactions (L-23-22).

Thanks to everyone that attended the Public Information Meeting on May 31. The slide deck is available for your reference, please also visit the FAQs to see responses to questions that we're getting about the proposal, we are updating these on a regular basis.

If you have any comments or feedback that you'd like to share, please email getinvolved@burlington.ca by June 13.

A report with a summary of the engagement is going to the Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability committee on Monday, June 6. You may speak to the item, register to delegate by 12:00 noon on Friday, June 3.

The City of Burlington will host a public meeting to provide information and to seek feedback on a proposed land transaction with the Halton District School Board (HDSB) and leasing arrangements with the HDSB and Brock University for the City’s planned acquisition of the Robert Bateman High School building and property. The meeting will include senior staff from the HDSB.

The meeting details are:

• Tuesday, May 31, 2022
• 7 to 8:30 p.m.
• Virtual meeting, https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83280943817
• Registration is not necessary.

The public meeting will involve a presentation, followed by a Q&A session.

Following the public meeting additional feedback will be sought through the City’s online engagement portal.

The City of Burlington’s intention to purchase Robert Bateman is a significant and long-term strategic matter that requires the City and the HDSB continue to share as much information as we can, and to make certain that the public is informed enough to provide feedback.

A survey had been made available to seek input into the proposed land transaction and lease arrangements, however, we believe more background information should be shared with residents on the City’s interest in purchasing Robert Bateman before we seek the public’s input, so the survey was paused.

The results of the survey are publicly available.

The proposed transaction with the HDSB would see the City transfer ownership of approximately five acres of City owned land to the HDSB as a component of a land exchange for the Robert Bateman site. The City owned land in question is located near Burlington Central High School and includes the high school football field and running track.

Securing the lands near Burlington Central High School in HDSB ownership has been consistent with the HDSB’s long term intention to continue operating Burlington Central as a school. This land exchange component will advance the City’s efforts to secure the Robert Bateman site in continued public ownership, ensuring that the Robert Bateman site is available for continued educational and community-oriented uses.

The City of Burlington’s intention to purchase Robert Bateman is a significant and long-term strategic matter that requires the City continue to share as much information as we can, and to make certain that the public is informed enough to provide feedback. A survey had been made available to seek input into the proposed land transaction and lease arrangements, however, we believe more background information should be shared with residents on the City’s interest in purchasing Robert Bateman.

We will therefore pause the survey while a public meeting can be arranged where City and the Halton District School Board staff will share information about the proposed land transaction. Meeting details will be shared on this page and communicated to the public once confirmed.

Once the public meeting has been held, we will seek additional feedback from the public.

Thank you to those that have already completed the survey. The survey results to date.

New on this page are 1) a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and 2) the opportunity for the public to ask questions called "Ask a Question".

The City of Burlington is looking for residents’ feedback on a proposed land transaction with the Halton District School Board (HDSB) and leasing arrangements with the HDSB and Brock University for the City’s planned acquisition of the Robert Bateman High School building and property.

The proposed transaction with the HDSB would see the City transfer ownership of approximately five acres of City owned land to the HDSB as a component of a land exchange for the Robert Bateman site. The City owned land in question is located near Burlington Central High School and includes the high school football field and running track.

Securing the lands near Burlington Central High School in HDSB ownership has been consistent with the HDSB’s long term intention to continue operating Burlington Central as a school. This land exchange component will advance the City’s efforts to secure the Robert Bateman site in continued public ownership, ensuring that the Robert Bateman site is available for continued educational and community-oriented uses.

Feedback will also be sought on securing leases with the HDSB and Brock University for portions of the Bateman Site. The HDSB intends on leasing space back at Bateman for educational purposes. Brock University also seeks to lease space at Bateman for their long-term educational needs.

Both leases at Bateman are expected to be long term leases not to exceed 25 years.

Burlington City Council directed staff to gather feedback from the public on these proposals. Public feedback can be provided at the City’s online engagement portal, Get Involved Burlington.

This engagement opportunity will be open to Burlington residents until June 13, 2022.

Following public input, staff will report back to Burlington Council with a final report and recommendations at the June 21, 2022 Council meeting.