University campuses, hotels and resorts are among the potential uses for one of three provincially owned institutions scheduled to close next March.

The Ontario Realty Corporation has issued an expression of interest for the Rideau Regional Centre, which, like Orillia’s Huronia Regional Centre, is slated to shut its doors in 2009.

Both facilities serve individuals with developmental disabilities.

Unlike the local facility, however, the Ottawa-area complex is now up for grabs as the government seeks potential purchasers for all or part of the property, located near Smiths Falls.

The 354-acre property contains a network of 50 interconnected buildings, an auditorium, gymnasium, indoor pool, food preparation area, cafeteria, laundry, and conference facilities.

According to an advertisement posted on the Ontario Realty Corporation’s web site, “the property may be appropriate for many uses: school/college/university campuses, conference training centre, hotel/resort, research facility, health industry facility, food preparation facility and residential, just to mention a few.”

An official with the province’s realty agency said the Rideau complex differs significantly from the local property in that it is relatively isolated and houses only one other agency, a police station.

Once emptied of its residents, the expansive property “is going to be vacant except for the OPP detachment,” Jim Butticci added.

The Huronia Regional Centre property – which the realty corporation is continuing to study with regards to future land uses – contains a courthouse, OPP training facilities and a health lab in addition to the residential component, he noted.

“Although the same program and type of facilities are there, there is really nothing else around (the Rideau complex),” he said.