Welland in the News
Former Welland Soccer Club lands on Rice Road sold by city; sale closes in October
August 13, 2021
Former Welland Soccer Club lands on Rice Road sold by city; sale closes in October
Just more than 12.5-hectares of land on Rice Road in Welland has been sold to the Schout Corp. Council approved the sale of the former Welland Soccer Club lands this week. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR FILE PHOTO
Once home to Welland Soccer Club, just more than 12.5-hectares of land on Rice Road will feature single- and semi-detached homes, and townhouses in the future.
Tuesday, city council approved selling the property at 469 Rice Rd. to the Schout Corp. and put funds from the sale into the Youngs Sports Complex Sustainability Reserve.
A report from economic development manager Lina DeChellis said Schout Corp. made an offer on the property in October 2017, several months after the former soccer club building was declared surplus by the city.
It had been home to Niagara Sport and Social Club, which moved out due to a lease disagreement with the city. The soccer club had previously moved to Youngs Sportsplex, 570 River Rd.
A release from the city said a requirement of the sale was the property be in the urban boundary. That was met earlier this year when Niagara Region council approved its inclusion as part of Welland’s Northwest Secondary Plan.
As far back as 1994, the city looked to include the area — bounded by Clare Avenue to the west, Niagara Street at Quaker Road to the east, the north side of Quaker Road east of First Avenue and the north and south of Quaker in the area of Rice Road — in the urban boundary.
The former soccer club property butts up against developments in the Town of Pelham, while the rest of the land in the area is on the border with Thorold.
DeChellis’ report said the sale closes on Oct. 20, and the city can’t disclose the selling price until then.