General University Area Updates and Rumours

[ijmorlan]

In a surprise move (to me), it would appear that Wilfred Laurier University is selling the houses along Albert St between Seagram Drive and University Ave.  This would include the Delton Glebe Counselling Centre which is one of the first buildings built for the Lutheran Seminary when it was first established.

This sale is a surprise to me as Laurier owns most of the rest of the block west and north of these properties, as well as properties stretching south of Bricker.  Why they would sell this one strip of 3-4 properties is beyond me.  At least one of the properties now has a sold sign on it.

That seems bizarre. If anything shouldn’t they be gradually buying up any remaining property on the block as the opportunity arises?

Then again, they didn’t buy the two blocks surrounded by Hemlock/Hickory/Hazel/Balsam when they were available, so who knows. Except that not buying something (which may not be available for a reasonable price) is quite different from selling something one already owns.

There is precedent however: I understand the University of Waterloo sold the building that is now EC3 some years ago, only to buy it back along with the rest of the RIM buildings southwest of Columbia/Phillip later.