Despite an ongoing legal battle with HRM over the sale of one St. Pat’s school, developer Joe Metlege says he’s “absolutely” interested in the former St. Pat’s High School.

Speaking at a community meeting Monday night, Metlege said he could be just the developer to handle that prime piece of Quinpool real estate.

“It’s pretty clear that the city has made a decision that they’re going to be rezoning this site for mixed use, so there is going to be development on the site,” Metlege said afterwards.

“I think I’m the type of developer that actually cares about what’s going on in the city … (The meeting) was a great opportunity for me to get some more tangible information that could be useful for both the development of the site but also in accomplishing a lot of the community’s needs.”

Metlege’s Jono Developments Ltd. is currently involved in a legal battle between HRM and three north-end Halifax community groups over the sale of St. Patrick’s-Alexandra school.

The community groups argue HRM broke its own policy in selling the property to Jono for less than market value without community consultation.

While Metlege said he’s not anxious at the prospect of doing business with HRM again, he “is anxious on leaving a positive impact on Halifax.”

“Fortunately or unfortunately this site is owned by Halifax, so I have to. But the reality is that it’s more the community that I want to be a part of and help strengthen,” he added.

St. Pat’s High School is currently owned by the Halifax Regional School Board, but is expected to be transferred to HRM’s possession in late November.