Kingsville’s plan to turn two vacant schools into attainable housing and public spaces has been blocked by the province — and no one knows why.

The Town of Kingsville confirmed this week that its proposal to purchase the former Kingsville District High School and Kingsville Public School (KPS) was rejected by the Ontario government. The town had hoped to redevelop the sites into much-needed housing and community-use spaces, but was told their expression of interest would not move forward.

What Happened

The three schools: Kingsville High, KPS, and Jack Miner Public School, were closed in June 2024 when students moved into the newly built Erie Migration District School. Following this transition, Kingsville council moved quickly to explore opportunities for the now-empty properties.

Earlier in 2025, council directed staff to submit an expression of interest to purchase both the high school and KPS. The vision included:

• Attainable housing development
• Public-use spaces for community benefit
• Maintaining local control over future construction

The town had set aside $3 million to potentially acquire the properties. As of July 2024, Kingsville High was valued at $2.4 million and KPS at $1.3 million.

The Province Said No

Under new provincial rules, municipalities can no longer automatically purchase closed schools. Unless a project meets a strict “provincial priority” — such as long-term care or affordable housing under government programs — properties are sold on the open market.

Kingsville’s proposal aimed to meet housing needs, but it was not accepted. The province provided no explanation.

Mayor Dennis Rogers expressed frustration, noting that council had a clear goal of creating attainable housing and wanted to avoid long-term vacancy.

“The last thing we want is someone to buy it and sit on it for years. That’s a loss for the community,” said Rogers.

The town is now considering whether to participate in the open bid process when the properties are formally listed by the Greater Essex County District School Board.

What’s Next for Kingsville

The concern among local leaders is that outside buyers may purchase the properties and delay development or build without alignment to local needs.

Mayor Rogers has reached out to Essex MPP Anthony Leardi, who is reportedly assisting in getting clarity from the province.

Kingsville’s residents and council are watching closely. With housing demand rising and community space limited, the future of these sites matters more than ever.

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