Some call it the worst kept secret, others are shocked as the location of the new "mega" high school for West Niagara is announced.
The District School Board of Niagara announcing today that trustees have approved the purchase of 20 acres of land at Durham Road on King Street in Beamsville.
The exact address will be 4670 Durham Road and it will front onto King.
The property is near the border of Grimsby and Lincoln, down the road from to the new YMCA, and near the new roundabout on Highway 8.
The Ontario government has committed $41 million dollars for the yet-to-be-named building which is replacing high schools in Grimsby, Beamsville and Smithville.
DSBN Trustee for Grimsby/Lincoln Cheryl Keddy-Scott tells CKTB this is wonderful news and the school will be able to accommodate 1500 students with 60 classrooms.
We asked her if it was a concern that the school will be close to a cannabis grow operation on the QEW corridor in Beamsville.
Up Cannabis has acquired Westbrook Greenhouses and will grow marijuana on the 16 acres of land.
Keddy-Scott says times are changing with the upcoming legalization of marijuana and they aren't concerned since the government has various protocols in place.
The school is slated to open in September of 2020.
The board is expected to ratify the decision at the January 23rd board meeting.
Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton says this is a unique moment for the town and says she is delighted.
She says quality education for all students in West Niagara is the most important issue at hand, and while the high school closure news was hard to accept they could not ignore declining enrolment.
Area business owner, Tony from Ridgeview Garden Centre--which will be just down the street--says he's very excited about the new school.
He thinks it will drive up business, and increase property values in the area.