The sale of Kingston’s former “Prison for Women” is up for discussion at Kingston City Council Tuesday night. But the key to the prison’s development could hinge on some 19th-century cell locks.
A local developer, ABNA Investment Limited out of Odessa, has an “accepted offer” to purchase the property from Queen’s University.
Several steps including cleanup of environmental contamination would need to be addressed before the deal could be finalized, as well as keeping the heritage of the building alive.
Liz Schell, a Kingston city councillor and a member of the city’s heritage committee, says the interior heritage designation for the prison features a number of items that have cultural value including a large locking mechanism.
“They used to be able to clang a lever and all the cells would lock at the same time. It’s awful even saying it. That’s designated. ABNA it sounds like they’re interested in removing it but putting it elsewhere so it is still on display as a heritage item but not inside the prison anymore.”
The former women’s penitentiary located on Sir John A. MacDonald Boulevard has been unused for more than a decade. The former Prison for Women closed in the spring of 2000. Queen’s bought the property in 2008.
“As the councillor for the area I really want to see that area developed. It’s such a prime spot and we do need more housing desperately in Kingston,” says Schell.