Frequently Asked Questions

The Region of Durham, in cooperation with the City of Oshawa, is examining options for the redevelopment of the former Ritson Public School site. The Ritson School project will involve developing a portion of the site for mixed income, mixed-use, sustainably built housing. The existing building may be used for community programs that meet the current and future needs of residents in the surrounding neighbourhoods and communities. 

Durham is working to expand access to affordable housing and community services and supports. The Ritson School Project is one project that supports the Region’s commitment to initiate the development of 1,000 new affordable rental housing units across Durham Region by 2024, as per At Home in Durham, the Durham Housing Plan 2014 - 2024, and the Region’s Master Housing Strategy.

You are invited to help shape the vision of the Ritson School Project by participating in engagement sessions, taking surveys and sharing your ideas.

Your ideas are essential to helping with the Ritson School Project. You can send the project team your questions or comments about the Ritson School Project by email at RitsonSchoolProject@durham.ca.

Keep up to date on the Ritson School Project by visiting the project website often at durham.ca/RitsonSchool.

We acknowledge that the former Ritson Public School is located on lands that the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg inhabited for thousands of years prior to European colonization. These lands are the traditional and treaty territories of the Nations covered under the Williams Treaties. 

We have learned from Indigenous community members that housing needs for Indigenous families; and spaces for Indigenous health and wellness programs, and for Indigenous leaders and organizations already doing meaningful, culturally responsive work, are critical considerations for this redevelopment. We will engage with the Williams Treaties First Nations and continue to engage with urban Indigenous community members and organizations on this project.

The project team welcomes any input and suggestions and can be reached directly via email at RitsonSchoolProject@durham.ca.

In 2019, the City of Oshawa designated the Ritson Public School property as a site of cultural heritage value or interest under the Ontario Heritage Act. The original school building was completed in 1923, and the first addition was completed in 1928, which merited designation. No decisions have been made regarding the future design of the site. The project team will work with the City of Oshawa and Heritage Oshawa to honour the heritage designation.

The Region of Durham retained a consulting team to conduct planning, consultation and engagement, and conceptual design work. In addition to consultation and engagement, a needs assessment report was created to identify housing and services currently available in the community. This research and engagement provided an understanding of current and future conditions and gaps in services and programs.

A professional land economist conducted research and data collection to establish current real estate market conditions for land use. The project team has been reviewing the site and evaluating the immediate surrounding area from a market perspective.

The Durham District School Board declared the Ritson Public School as surplus in 2012. Recognizing that the area continues to change and grow, new schools could be built in the area. There may be an opportunity for an educational component to be included in the redevelopment, but the building will not be returned to its former use as a school.

The Region of Durham is working to expand access to affordable housing and community services and supports. The Ritson School Project is one project that could support the Region’s commitment to initiate the development of 1,000 new affordable rental housing units across Durham Region by 2024, as per At Home in Durham, the Durham Housing Plan 2014 - 2024, and the Region’s Master Housing Strategy.

The Ritson School Project is one development, along with other initiatives underway, that could help meet the Region’s commitment to 1,000 affordable rental units across Durham communities.

The type of housing has yet to be determined. The Ritson School Project will look at opportunities to provide mixed income, mixed-use sustainably built housing, offering more affordable and market rent housing choices.  This may include mid-rise or high-rise building options.

Mixed-use developments combine housing, services, offices and retail space into one project.

No decisions have been made regarding the specific type of housing and number of units for the future use of the Ritson School site. The Phase 1 Needs Assessment process (research and engagement) will examine many options for the unused lands on the school property——this may include mid-rise and high-rise building options to create a mixed income, mixed-use site with sustainably built housing, offering more affordable and market rent housing choices.

Safety is a top priority. A traffic impact study will be completed and will identify any improvements or mitigation measures needed to ensure safe and reasonable traffic conditions for the area.  

The future Central Oshawa GO Station site along the Lakeshore East GO Extension is located at 500 Howard Street, northeast of Simcoe Street South and First Avenue in the City of Oshawa. The Ritson School and property is within walking distance of the future GO Station, and is located within the Central Oshawa GO Station Protected Major Transit Station Area (PMTSA) in the Region’s new Regional Official Plan (ROP). The new ROP was adopted by Regional Council in May 2023 and is awaiting approval from the province. PMTSAs offer a wide range of housing opportunities, including affordable housing, office uses, street-oriented commercial uses, institutional uses, a wide range of recreational uses, and public amenities.

As the consultation advances and master plans are refined, the Region of Durham will look at various funding opportunities for site redevelopment.