More beds for students

College unveils plans for two properties

Holland College has found room for some students who have been looking for a bed.

The college told The Guardian on Thursday what it plans to do with two newly acquired properties on Kent Street.

The college had previously announced this past summer it had purchased two properties — 271 Kent St. and 277 Kent St.

“The newly acquired properties are for this year, for housing students, an overflow from the college residence,’’ said Michael O’Grady, vice-president of strategic planning for the college.

“Our residence is full and, in an effort to bring in as many students as we could and to meet the demand for our programs, those buildings are being used for housing students this year.’’

The college has also applied to the city to rezone its properties on Kent Street from a neighbourhood designation to an institutional designation.

That has had some residents concerned about what the college plans on doing with the properties after they’re finished as temporary residences.

The property at 271 Kent St. is a heritage property and, in fact, the entire block, from Weymouth Street to Cumberland Street is considered a heritage block and part of the city’s original 500 lots.

“We value all of the properties that we own along that street and (we are) certainly committed to maintaining the streetscape and, in fact, enhancing it.’’

The college won’t have to worry about finding beds for its students for long. A new 81-bed residence is set to open on Grafton Street in time for the 201819 school year.