Minto Townhome Proposal Preserves Etobicoke Day Care Centre

Parents were relieved to discover that Lakeshore’s largest day care centre might be preserved by developers, pending a tentative agreement.

Vice President of land development for Minto Group, Tom Giancos told The Vincent Massey School Community at a community meeting last week that a tentative deal will occupy 2.7 acres on the Vincent Massey site for townhouse developments, but retain the half acre that is occupied by the school and day care.

“We essentially have a very preliminary, conditional agreement with VMCC (Vincent Massey Child Care) to essentially develop a portion of the site, while retaining the existing school building and while retaining the day care,” Giancos explained.

Conditions of the agreement include a partnership between Minto and the owner of Vincent Massey to develop approximately two acres of land at 68 Daisy Avenue. The plans would preserve the existing day care and school but would utilize the gymnasium space for the development project.

Available for year-round service, the day care centre would be sorely missed by community members, including the program’s 193 children who are currently enrolled. Open since 1985 for children up to the age of 12, the school was identified as surplus to the needs of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) last June and put up for sale through the Toronto Lands Corporation.

Etobicoke-Lakeshore Councillor Mark Grimes mentioned that the City was originally interested in buying the site to salvage the school and day care, as they have on two separate occasions in South Etobicoke (at Franklin Horner and then at Thomas Berry). However, City budget discussions quickly made it evident that there were not enough funds to aid this Etobicoke landmark.

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Etobicoke-Lakeshore Trustee, Pamela Gough also expressed support, though saying that her comments are limited by the status of the offer. “It’s been my goal and objective all along to make sure the day care lands in a good spot, and if that good spot is in the building that it’s in now, I’m fine with that,” Gough said. “The feedback I’m getting is that people think it’s a good idea and the parents are all very relieved. I’m very positive.”

Parents who attended the meeting are hopeful that a resolution between the Vincent Massey site owner and Minto Group will materialize in their favour. “I just want to thank Minto for consulting with the day care to try to save Vincent Massey, because it’s great that a developer is actually considering the community,” said Tina, a community parent whose daughter attends the day care. “As we know, living in this neighbourhood with lots of families moving in, day care is a huge priority in this community, so thank you.”

Having experienced such great success for previous developments like Minto Southshore and Minto Longbranch townhouse developments in Etobicoke, we’re confident in Minto’s ability to contribute to the Vincent Massey community while preserving the integrity of the neighbourhood.

Feature image via vmcc.com