Exclusive – Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini has confirmed Infrastructure Ontario is close to a deal with a buyer of the former Brookside Youth Centre.
In a exclusive interview with Today’s Northumberland on Friday, June 14, 2024, Piccini said, “there were multiple offers received and IO (Infrastructure Ontario) is now negotiating with the preferred proponent for the sale of the property.”
The proposed buyer and Infrastructure Ontario are currently working out the conditions.
The 30-acre property in Cobourg located at 390 King Street East has been for sale by Infrastructure Ontario since February 8, 2024 at a listing price of $9,100,000.
The former MTO property located at 138 Hope Street North has also been for sale since February 8, 2024 at a price of $3,900,000 for the 14-acre property.
“We’re in a very good position with Infrastructure Ontario and the reality directive to exercise the sale of those properties.”
Since September 2023 a encampment has been set-up on the property in Cobourg.
At times there have been upwards of 60 people at the encampment.
On Thursday, June 13, 2024 fencing was installed around the entire perimeter of the property in Cobourg.
“People are very familiar with this terrible Waterloo ruling and we’re seeing encampments all over Canada. The legal threshold here as it pertains to private property is very different from vacant land.”
Piccini said his goal hasn’t changed since the start.
“We want to sell this property.”
“That was my commitment to this community with not just that property, but the MTO yards in Port Hope. We don’t need a government playing Monopoly. We want to limit our footprint.”
Piccini said it’s important to note that it’s important to support the vulnerable with their needs.
“We’ve always been there to step up to the service provider (Northumberland County) when they’ve asked for funds and support.”
“In the case of the encampment, people are frustrated – we’ve heard. We can’t normalize this. We can’t normalize a separate society within a society. This cannot be the new “norm” in Canada.”
The fencing that was installed around the perimeter of the former youth centre seemed to come as a shock to both some encampment members and the community.
“Fencing is going up because we as a community need to make sure – community safety first and foremost. Secondly we want to make sure that the encampment – that we’re able to focus support on those who are there. And understand who is coming and going.”
Piccini said in his strongest words – he will never support the legalization of hard drugs in his riding.
“There are many who want to normalize drug use in our community. They’re not welcome here in our community.”
“We are not going to normalize hard drugs in our community.”
“I’m vehemently against who seek to do that. If you want to vote for legalized hard drug use, there are other parties you can vote for – don’t vote for me because it’s never going to happen under my watch.”
Piccini did say things are looking good for the sale of both properties.
“We want to get those wrap-around supports for those who are there working with our service provider. We’ve increased funding. There are other community non-profits that are trying to assist here and trying to help people.”
But at this time, Piccini couldn’t give a timeline of when the sale of both properties will be finalized.
“They are working out conditions and again that’s independent of political involvement. We’re no longer at a stage of “multiple” there are working with a preferred proponent.”
Piccini and his government’s focus is to have more affordable housing.
“We have surplus property there and we have surplus property in Port Hope and properties all around Ontario that the Province is looking at disposing of.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
