Queen Mary Affordable Housing Project

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Building in back of parking lot

The City of Belleville is advancing the redevelopment of the former Queen Mary School site into a mixed-use area that provides affordable rental housing while preserving valued community green space. This project responds to growing local housing needs and follows Council’s directive to balance new development with the protection of parkland.

The underutilized 4.62-acre site will be transformed into a combination of affordable residential units and a public park. Highlights of the project include:

  • Reuse or redevelopment of the existing Queen Mary School building
  • Construction of new affordable housing units
  • Long-term affordability secured through agreements with the successful developer
  • Protection of approximately 1.47 acres of parkland at the northwest corner, consistent with the existing playground
  • Alignment with the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund Housing Action Plan

The initiative supports Belleville’s broader goals of improving housing availability and fostering inclusive, sustainable neighbourhoods. A Building Condition Assessment has been completed to assist developers in preparing proposals and to explore options for effectively reusing the former school building.

Request for Proposal:

The redevelopment process will be guided by a formal Request for Proposals, which outlines key selection criteria, including:

  • Number and type of housing units
  • Commitment to long-term affordability
  • Compliance with zoning regulations
  • Adaptive reuse potential of the former school building
  • Commitment to invest in the upgrade and expansion of the existing parkland
  • Proponent qualifications and delivery timelines

A survey and appraisal of the site have been completed, and Council has endorsed the use of Community Improvement Plan Program 6: Municipal Lands Program to facilitate the Request for Proposals.

The Request for Proposals for the developable portions of the site has now closed. The selected proponent will proceed with the development of the affordable housing project, aligned with pre-established development timelines confirmed with the City, as part of the land sale.

Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments:

The City has initiated an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment to support the future development. The current Official Plan designation of the subject land is Residential Land Use and Open Space. To facilitate the proposed rezoning, the Official Plan amendment will realign existing Land Use Designations to reflect the existing playground and proposed development area, resulting in a slight increase to the overall size of the current Open Space designation.

The Zoning By-law amendment proposes to rezone the subject land from Community Facility (CF) Zone to Residential Type 3 (R3) Zone for multi-unit housing and Open Space (OS) Zone to accommodate the parkland. The final site layout will be determined by Council through the RFP process. Zoning By-law 2024-100 permits parkland within both the OS and R3 Zones should the proposed parkland area increase through the RFP process.

Stay Informed:

Stay informed and get involved in this important community project by visiting the City’s website and subscribing to this project page. You can subscribe to be notified as the project reaches key milestones, request draft reports through the site, participate in upcoming public meetings (with details shared via this project page and mailing list), and share your feedback by completing the online comment form.

The City of Belleville is advancing the redevelopment of the former Queen Mary School site into a mixed-use area that provides affordable rental housing while preserving valued community green space. This project responds to growing local housing needs and follows Council’s directive to balance new development with the protection of parkland.

The underutilized 4.62-acre site will be transformed into a combination of affordable residential units and a public park. Highlights of the project include:

  • Reuse or redevelopment of the existing Queen Mary School building
  • Construction of new affordable housing units
  • Long-term affordability secured through agreements with the successful developer
  • Protection of approximately 1.47 acres of parkland at the northwest corner, consistent with the existing playground
  • Alignment with the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund Housing Action Plan

The initiative supports Belleville’s broader goals of improving housing availability and fostering inclusive, sustainable neighbourhoods. A Building Condition Assessment has been completed to assist developers in preparing proposals and to explore options for effectively reusing the former school building.

Request for Proposal:

The redevelopment process will be guided by a formal Request for Proposals, which outlines key selection criteria, including:

  • Number and type of housing units
  • Commitment to long-term affordability
  • Compliance with zoning regulations
  • Adaptive reuse potential of the former school building
  • Commitment to invest in the upgrade and expansion of the existing parkland
  • Proponent qualifications and delivery timelines

A survey and appraisal of the site have been completed, and Council has endorsed the use of Community Improvement Plan Program 6: Municipal Lands Program to facilitate the Request for Proposals.

The Request for Proposals for the developable portions of the site has now closed. The selected proponent will proceed with the development of the affordable housing project, aligned with pre-established development timelines confirmed with the City, as part of the land sale.

Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments:

The City has initiated an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment to support the future development. The current Official Plan designation of the subject land is Residential Land Use and Open Space. To facilitate the proposed rezoning, the Official Plan amendment will realign existing Land Use Designations to reflect the existing playground and proposed development area, resulting in a slight increase to the overall size of the current Open Space designation.

The Zoning By-law amendment proposes to rezone the subject land from Community Facility (CF) Zone to Residential Type 3 (R3) Zone for multi-unit housing and Open Space (OS) Zone to accommodate the parkland. The final site layout will be determined by Council through the RFP process. Zoning By-law 2024-100 permits parkland within both the OS and R3 Zones should the proposed parkland area increase through the RFP process.

Stay Informed:

Stay informed and get involved in this important community project by visiting the City’s website and subscribing to this project page. You can subscribe to be notified as the project reaches key milestones, request draft reports through the site, participate in upcoming public meetings (with details shared via this project page and mailing list), and share your feedback by completing the online comment form.

  • Notice of Public Meeting | Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications

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    A Public Meeting, will be held in the Council Chambers of Belleville City Hall (169 Front Street) on September 8, 2026, at 5:30 P.M. to consider amendments to the City of Belleville’s Official Plan and Zoning By-law, as amended, for land south of Catherine Street, east of Octavia Street and west of Isabel Street, municipally known as 41 Octavia Street, City of Belleville, and commonly referred to as the former Queen Mary School Site.

    The subject land is approximately 1.85 hectares in size and has approximately 192 metres of frontage on Octavia Street. The proposed amendments will preserve a minimum of 0.59 hectares of parkland and facilitate the development of 95 to 145 residential dwelling units, through the Queen Mary Affordable Housing Project.

    The current Official Plan designation of the subject land is Residential Land Use and Open Space. To facilitate the proposed rezoning, the Official Plan amendment will realign existing Land Use Designations to reflect the existing playground and proposed development area, resulting in a slight increase to the overall size of the current Open Space designation.

    The Zoning By-law amendment proposes to rezone the subject land from Community Facility (CF) Zone to Residential Type 3 (R3) Zone for multi-unit housing and Open Space (OS) Zone to accommodate the parkland. The final site layout will be determined by Council through the Queen Mary Affordable Housing Project Request for Proposals process. Zoning By-law 2024-100 permits parkland within both the OS and R3 Zones should the proposed parkland area increase through the RFP process.

    Please Note: These Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments are meant to support the future development of the Queen Mary Affordable Housing Project Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP process is currently on-going, and no development will occur until the RFP process is complete and approved by Council.

    For more information, including the proposed Official Plan map and proposed Zoning map, please refer to the official public notice.

    A Public Meeting, will be held in the Council Chambers of Belleville City Hall (169 Front Street) on September 8, 2026, at 5:30 P.M. to consider amendments to the City of Belleville’s Official Plan and Zoning By-law, as amended, for land south of Catherine Street, east of Octavia Street and west of Isabel Street, municipally known as 41 Octavia Street, City of Belleville, and commonly referred to as the former Queen Mary School Site.

    The subject land is approximately 1.85 hectares in size and has approximately 192 metres of frontage on Octavia Street. The proposed amendments will preserve a minimum of 0.59 hectares of parkland and facilitate the development of 95 to 145 residential dwelling units, through the Queen Mary Affordable Housing Project.

    The current Official Plan designation of the subject land is Residential Land Use and Open Space. To facilitate the proposed rezoning, the Official Plan amendment will realign existing Land Use Designations to reflect the existing playground and proposed development area, resulting in a slight increase to the overall size of the current Open Space designation.

    The Zoning By-law amendment proposes to rezone the subject land from Community Facility (CF) Zone to Residential Type 3 (R3) Zone for multi-unit housing and Open Space (OS) Zone to accommodate the parkland. The final site layout will be determined by Council through the Queen Mary Affordable Housing Project Request for Proposals process. Zoning By-law 2024-100 permits parkland within both the OS and R3 Zones should the proposed parkland area increase through the RFP process.

    Please Note: These Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments are meant to support the future development of the Queen Mary Affordable Housing Project Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP process is currently on-going, and no development will occur until the RFP process is complete and approved by Council.

    For more information, including the proposed Official Plan map and proposed Zoning map, please refer to the official public notice.

  • City issues Request for Proposals for Queen Mary Affordable Housing Project

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    The City of Belleville has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the redevelopment of the former Queen Mary Public School property, advancing a significant opportunity to increase the supply of affordable housing in the community.

    The project site includes the former school property at 41 Octavia St. and has been identified as a priority location for residential development that supports the City's housing goals while preserving valuable community green space.

    As part of the project, the existing 1.47-acre park located at the corner of Octavia and Catherine streets will be maintained. Proponents are encouraged to commit to enhancing or upgrading the existing park as part of their proposed development concept.

    To support project viability and help reduce development costs, the City will use funding received through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund to rebate the cost of the land back to the successful proponent as they hit key development milestones. This investment is intended to help facilitate the construction of new affordable housing units while maximizing the long-term community benefit of the site.

    The successful proposal must include a minimum of 50 per cent affordable rental units. Affordable rental rates for this project are defined as less than 80 per cent of the Median Market Rent for Belleville, based on the most recent values published in the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Rental Market Survey. Proponents are encouraged to exceed this minimum requirement and explore innovative housing solutions that address local housing needs.

    “Creating more affordable housing is one of the most important priorities facing communities across Ontario, and Belleville is committed to being part of the solution,” said Mayor Neil Ellis. “This project will help deliver much-needed housing while preserving neighbourhood green space and making strategic use of Housing Accelerator Fund dollars to reduce development costs. We look forward to receiving proposals that will transform this site into a vibrant community asset for current and future residents.”

    Submitted proposals will be evaluated using a comprehensive set of criteria, including:

    • Experience and qualifications of the proponent
    • Overall conceptual site plan
    • Proposed added-value components
    • Financial plan and project schedule
    • Housing affordability
    • Incorporation of the adaptive re-use of the existing Queen Mary school building

    The City invites proposals from qualified developers and housing providers with demonstrated experience delivering affordable housing projects. The City is seeking innovative, financially viable solutions that prioritize housing affordability, high-quality design and timely project delivery while creating lasting benefits for the community.

    The RFP is open until Aug. 24, 2026. Interested proponents can view the complete RFP document and submission requirements on the Bids and Tenders portal.

    The City of Belleville has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the redevelopment of the former Queen Mary Public School property, advancing a significant opportunity to increase the supply of affordable housing in the community.

    The project site includes the former school property at 41 Octavia St. and has been identified as a priority location for residential development that supports the City's housing goals while preserving valuable community green space.

    As part of the project, the existing 1.47-acre park located at the corner of Octavia and Catherine streets will be maintained. Proponents are encouraged to commit to enhancing or upgrading the existing park as part of their proposed development concept.

    To support project viability and help reduce development costs, the City will use funding received through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund to rebate the cost of the land back to the successful proponent as they hit key development milestones. This investment is intended to help facilitate the construction of new affordable housing units while maximizing the long-term community benefit of the site.

    The successful proposal must include a minimum of 50 per cent affordable rental units. Affordable rental rates for this project are defined as less than 80 per cent of the Median Market Rent for Belleville, based on the most recent values published in the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Rental Market Survey. Proponents are encouraged to exceed this minimum requirement and explore innovative housing solutions that address local housing needs.

    “Creating more affordable housing is one of the most important priorities facing communities across Ontario, and Belleville is committed to being part of the solution,” said Mayor Neil Ellis. “This project will help deliver much-needed housing while preserving neighbourhood green space and making strategic use of Housing Accelerator Fund dollars to reduce development costs. We look forward to receiving proposals that will transform this site into a vibrant community asset for current and future residents.”

    Submitted proposals will be evaluated using a comprehensive set of criteria, including:

    • Experience and qualifications of the proponent
    • Overall conceptual site plan
    • Proposed added-value components
    • Financial plan and project schedule
    • Housing affordability
    • Incorporation of the adaptive re-use of the existing Queen Mary school building

    The City invites proposals from qualified developers and housing providers with demonstrated experience delivering affordable housing projects. The City is seeking innovative, financially viable solutions that prioritize housing affordability, high-quality design and timely project delivery while creating lasting benefits for the community.

    The RFP is open until Aug. 24, 2026. Interested proponents can view the complete RFP document and submission requirements on the Bids and Tenders portal.