Fate of Qualicum Commons property still unknown

As many in the community already know, School District 69 has been reviewing the fate of their obsolete school buildings in both Qualicum and Parksville. On June 25th 2024, the School District board passed a motion to support the closure of both Qualicum Commons and Craig Street Commons to public and business use, effective July 1 2025. After the motion, board Chair Flynn stated that shortly before the meeting date an interested party had proposed a longer term solution for one of the properties. This proposal caused the board to consider whether there were viable alternatives other than the outright closure of one or both of these sites. It was suggested that the motion be postponed and, while recognizing that the Board does not have the funds to support these two facilities, allow public notice for interested parties to come forward with potential proposals for the two sites. A report would then be provided to the Board for consideration in October and a final closure decision made for the two properties at the November meeting. The new motion to postpone the closure was carried.

On September 4th 2024 a joint news release was issued by the School District and Town of Qualicum Beach. The news release announced "a new collaborative effort for a long term solution for the Qualicum Commons." and "also recognize the importance of the existing tenants and the valuable community services currently offered." "These services which include educational programs recreational activities, and support services play a crucial role in the well being of the community". "The goal is to maintain and enhance these offerings while exploring long term solutions to ensure that the site remains a vibrant and accessible community resource."

To date, no further information has come forth from the town, leaving QB taxpayers in the dark as to the “form” of collaborative long term solutions being considered.

In the background is a grassroots Oceanside based group of volunteers, known as Save the Commons. This group is understood to represent the tenants of both sites along with the users of the services provided at these locations. They are advocating to keep both sites open for the benefit of the Oceanside community. To their credit, they have rallied to create a website and conducted a survey and a letter campaign to lobby the school district. The first 35 page proposal put forth by the group was to create a society which would act as a property manager of the two sites, including administration and maintenance of the buildings. This is a sizable undertaking given that the school board is intending to divest itself of the properties as it does not have the $4 to $5 million dollars required for the upcoming repairs to keep the buildings open. The proposal was later modified to cover the property administration but not major repairs to the buildings. Considerable time and effort has gone into these proposals, but neither appear to be attractive to the school district. We understand from discussions with the group that their proposals were rejected by the school board and that they are now looking to collaborate directly with the Town of Qualicum Beach. The group continues to issue news releases with the latest version released on January 8th 2025 which states "While it is anticipated that the Qualicum Commons is likely safe from closure, the future of the Craig Street Commons still hangs in the balance."

So who's responsibility are the tenants at the Qualicum Commons ?

Based on the briefing notes attached to the School District's May 21 2024 finance committee meeting, there were 14 tenants in the Qualicum Commons. The school board policy gives rental priority in the order of

1. School programs including extra-curricular activities,

2. Youth under 18 programs,

3. Non profit organizations/adult recreation,

4. Profit oriented and non resident individuals,

Generally, the tenant mix in the Qualicum Commons appears to be about 50% non profit and 50% profit oriented. A recent tour of the building indicated that some of those tenants may have seen the writing on the wall and despite the below market rental costs have made other arrangements. There appears to be two for profit daycare centers, a for profit dance school, a weavers guild, a couple of for profit therapists and two rooms are used by a guide dog association. Society of Organized Services (SOS) uses about 20% of the space for office and programing.

With the May 14th 2024 provincial government announcement of integrating childcare options into schools and the renaming of the ministry to Ministry of Education and Childcare, the School District's mandate has evolved to include before and after school childcare onsite with schools. The government announcement claims "licensed childcare on school grounds is available in more than 900 facilities throughout the province, with more than 70 of these operated by school districts." This would appear to put the responsibility of the daycare tenants squarely in the realm of the school district.

The Town of Qualicum Beach does not have a mandate to provide subsidized rent for any “for profit” businesses and, in fact, the Community Charter expressly prohibits a council from providing assistance to a business. I assume, perhaps naively, that the town is receiving property taxes on behalf of these for profit businesses.

That leaves us with organizations such as SOS who do provide valuable service to the Oceanside community. Their 2024 annual report shows operating revenues of $4.7 million of which 66% comes from thrift shop operations, 15% from government grants, 13% from donations, and 6% from programming and other income. The website Charity Data reports that in 2023 (the most recent available information), SOS received $37,307 from municipal and regional district governments, $450,765 from the Provincial government, and $149,332 from the Federal government.

The residents of Qualicum Beach support SOS though income taxation that is redistributed by the federal and provincial governments. They also support SOS with their volunteer time, by donating goods and/ or making private donations.

There is no indication that the tenants individually, or the Save the Commons group collectively, have undertaken an audit of available space in the Oceanside community to rehouse the Commons' tenants in the event the School District finds an investor to purchase the site.

How will the town of Qualicum Beach benefit by collaborating with the School District for Qualicum Commons real estate?

Firstly, the school board has a fiduciary duty to achieve the highest value for the sale of public assets. This implies that the town would be paying full market value. The BC assessment for this 8 acre property is $ 8,099,000 as currently zoned.

The Official Community Plan (OCP) envisions the property being retained as institutional and to be held for future school needs in the community. Institutional zoning policy specifically indicates the town would consider rezoning applications for a health care facility within the village neighbourhood.

Based on these policies it appears the Town's goal for the commons property would be to have the school district retain the land for future school use or for the school district to work with an investor for rezoning to a health care facility. The latter would at least provide an increase to our tax base.

The town’s 2025 to 2029 strategic plan and budget make no reference to any acquisition or expense relative to the commons property.

At this time, the Town is struggling to set aside sufficient reserves required to replace existing assets as they need to be replaced. Further, property taxes for QB taxpayers are continuing to rise at unsustainable rates. On top of these challenges we have three large infrastructure projects underway through the Regional District of Nanaimo of which QB taxpayers will need to pay their share. In case you have forgotten, these projects include the Ravensong lazy river /pool expansion at $36 million, French Creek Pollution Control Center upgrade at $140 million and Nanaimo Regional Hospital expansion/upgrade at $2.3 billion (10 year budget) to be funded by tax payers within the RDN. Yes, this hospital tax is the 40% portion paid by Regional District property taxpayers!

I have no idea how the town envisions collaborating with the school district to either buy the Commons property or take on any operational liability to support the school districts remaining tenants.

There is simply no more money. This may explain why after 4 months no further information has come forth and we all await the School District's decision scheduled for January 28th as reported on the Save the Commons web site.

Marie Noel

January 14 2024

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You can email us at Qualicumbeachinsights@gmail.com

More Info

Joint TQB and SD69 news release Sept 4 2024

Save the Commons news release Jan 8 2025

Save the Commons Save the commons proposal

BC government May 14th 2024 news release