General News

November 1, 2022

City of Burlington Completes Deal to Purchase Robert Bateman High School and Create Sustainable Community Hub

This media release first appeared on burlington.ca

Burlington, Ont.— Nov. 1, 2022—The City has completed a purchase agreement and land exchange transaction with the Halton District School Board (HDSB) involving the Robert Bateman High School property. In the agreement, the City purchased the Bateman property for $29.6 million, while the HDSB purchased a City owned property near Burlington Central High School, which includes the high school football field and running track, for $21.7 million. The difference in price of $7.9 million will be debt financed, with annual debt payments recovered from the City’s capital reserve funds.

This acquisition would push forward key objectives laid out in the City of Burlington’s 25-year strategic plan. Key pillars of this Plan include making Burlington a City that grows through attracting talent, good jobs and economic opportunity to the community.

Within the Bateman space, the HDSB will retain a long-term interest at the school to accommodate the Gary Allan Learning Centre. And as previously announced, Brock University will offer their Teachers Education and Applied Disabilities Studies Programs and will be developing professional and continuing studies specifically to the needs of Burlington. 

In addition to the partnership with the HDSB and Brock University, the City has partnered with other institutions, ensuring that there is an adaptive reuse strategy for the Bateman site and to create a sustainable community hub which will include community rooms, a triple gym and the existing City pool. The Burlington Public Library will relocate its Appleby Line branch to this location to develop a place for learning and education and the relocation of TechPlace, a hub led by Burlington Economic Development, where the tech community can connect, develop and grow their business.

Public engagement will take place in early 2023 to seek community feedback on possible uses for the remaining space.

 Quick Facts

• In June 2021, HDSB trustees approved a plan to declare the former Robert Bateman High School facility surplus to its needs and retain an interest in a portion of the facility to relocate the Burlington Gary Allan Learning Centre.
• In June 2021, the City of Burlington announced that an expression of interest would be submitted to the HDSB to purchase the Robert Bateman site through a partnership with Brock University.
• In December 2021, Council provided direction to staff to submit a formal offer to purchase the Robert Bateman High School site.
• In Feb. 2022, the HDSB accepted the City’s offer to purchase the Robert Bateman High School site.
• On Feb. 3, 2022, Burlington City Council endorsed next steps to advance the potential acquisition of the Robert Bateman High School site from the HDSB.

Links and Resources

• Get Involved project page
• Staff Report – Public Engagement on Robert Bateman Proposals (L-22-22) – May 17, 2022
• Staff Report – Public engagement update on Robert Bateman High School land related proposals (CM-17-22) – June 6, 2022
• Staff presentation regarding Robert Bateman High School surplus school site update (CM-26-21) – Nov. 15, 2021
• Robert Bateman Building – Preliminary Design, Environmental, Architectural and Engineering Services (EICS-20-21) – Dec. 14, 2021
• Government of Ontario Regulation on Surplus School Property
• Media Release – City of Burlington to submit expression of interest to purchase surplus Bateman High School site – Jun. 24, 2021
• Media Release – City Council approves next steps for potential purchase of Robert Bateman High School site – Feb. 7, 2022
• Media Release – City of Burlington to host public meeting on Robert Bateman High School proposals – May 26, 2022