Harrow school RFP reissued, affordable housing component removed

Former Harrow District High School location in Harrow, Ont. on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (Chris Campbell/CTV Windsor)

A request for proposal (RFP) will be reissued for the former Harrow High School.

The RFP was previously issued for developers to put forward an application for the former school, however, no bids were submitted.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Essex council received an update from administration on the RFP, that said five developers did a site walk through, but no proposals were submitted.

In February 2024, council voted in favour of exploring the possibility of converting the school into new high-density housing with council approving within the RFP, it be included that 20 per cent of the units would be considered affordable housing.

Administration said the affordable housing target may have been a reason no RFP’s were submitted, so council approved to reissue the RFP without the affordable housing portion included.

“I don’t believe this location would be inexpensive, they have to demo the building, so we have to take that into consideration. Now that doesn’t mean that we won’t give consideration to proposals that come forward with an affordable housing component, or an accessible housing component, that would be ideal,” said Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy.

Bondy said this area doesn’t need more commercial space.

“Ideally we’d like to get some residential in there, potentially multi-residential or I’d love to see tiny homes. We definitely want to have and attract more housing to Harrow. We’re building our capacity up for our pump station. And we’re ready to see some more people in Harrow.”

The RFP opened in mid-December 2024 and closed on March 31, 2025.

The school closed in 2016 and was purchased by the Town of Essex.

Only the school site would be sold off and the surrounding green space would remain as municipal property.

— Meagan Delaurier/AM800 News