The former site of the Northern Montessori School on Leslie Street could become a new 24-unit industrial facility.
BDF Properties Inc. has submitted a site plan application at 17895 Leslie St. to demolish the former school site and build two two-storey industrial buildings in its place. The application indicates the two new buildings would provide potentially up to 24 separate suites.
Project manager Tony De Cotiis said they see the development as filling an underserved market.
“There really is a lack of these types of units available in the Newmarket area, or anywhere in the surrounding area,” he said. “That was basically the reason for developing.”
The property is next to a shopping plaza and sits across the street from residential properties. Each of the two new buildings would have a gross floor area of more than 2,000 square metres, including the first and second floors. There would be a total of 78 parking spaces.
De Cotiis said the project would provide office space that could potentially house a variety of businesses, such as real estate, accounting or dentists.
“Those are the typical small, mom and pop businesses we’re talking,” he said.
Steven Hamilton is the manager at Spoke O’Motion, in the shopping plaza next door to the property. He said the property has been idle for years.
“It wouldn’t be great if there was a boatload of traffic running in there, but it may drive more business,” he said. “We’re pretty neutral in here, either way. Depends on what the business is.”
A transportation study from Nexttrans Consulting Engineers included in the application estimated approximately 20 new trips during morning and afternoon peak hours, with no intersection improvements necessary to accommodate that.
The property will have landscaping at the front, factoring in the residential area across the street, De Cotiis said.
“There’s a lot of landscaping that’s going to be designed, and there are some green items the town is asking us to look at as well,” he said. “It will just blend into the community if anything. I don’t see it being any issue.”
The developer hopes to get through the site plan process quickly and perhaps start building next spring or summer.
“We’re hoping they’re going to push really hard to get things up and going and not delay us.”
