Item - 2019.EY8.39
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on October 2 and 3, 2019 without amendments and without debate.
- This item was considered by the Etobicoke York Community Council on September 16, 2019 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on October 2 and 3, 2019.
EY8.39 - Maximize the Buttonwood School and Park Site - Next Steps and Development of a Public Meeting
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted on Consent
- Ward:
- 2 - Etobicoke Centre
City Council Decision
City Council on October 2 and 3, 2019, adopted the following:
1. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and Create TO, to engage with the Toronto Catholic District School Board regarding the feasibility, next steps and development of a public consultation process on a solution which could maximize the Buttonwood School and Park sites for both the needs of the School Board and the City with regard to the development of schools, a community centre and a park, and to report to City Council in the first quarter of 2020 with recommendations.
Background Information (Community Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-137620.pdf
EY8.39 - Maximize the Buttonwood School and Park Site - Next Steps and Development of a Public Meeting
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Ward:
- 2 - Etobicoke Centre
Community Council Recommendations
Etobicoke York Community Council recommends that:
1. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Create TO, to engage with the Toronto Catholic District School Board regarding the feasibility, next steps and development of a public consultation process on a solution which could maximize the Buttonwood School and Park sites for both the needs of the School Board and the City with regard to the development of schools, a community centre and a park, and to report to Council in Q1 2020 with recommendations.
Origin
Summary
In 2018 the TCDSB purchased the former Buttonwood School property at 100 Allanhurst Dr., Ward 2, with the intention to develop an urgently needed new elementary school. Etobicoke Centre has long experienced pupil accommodation pressure at the secondary level. Finding a suitable site for a new secondary school has been a constant challenge. Finding suitable locations for City facilities like a new community centre has similar challenges.
The City of Toronto's Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019–2038 recommends that a new Community Centre be constructed in Etobicoke Centre, geographically proximate to the Buttonwood site. The Buttonwood school site is adjacent and contiguous to Buttonwood Park, which spans northward to Eglinton Avenue. Following a closer review of the Buttonwood site it has become apparent that with some spatial reorganization of the school and the park, it may be feasible to construct both a secondary school and primary school on the same site.
On September 12, 2019 the TCDSB Corporate Services Committee approved development of an elementary and/or secondary school on the Buttonwood site ranked as #2 on its 2019-2020 capital priorities list, and will be submitting a business case on the project to the Ministry of Education. My preliminary discussions with the TCDSB revealed that the potential to co-develop a school(s), and a City of Toronto Community Centre as part of shared facility would be worth exploring further. In addition, support from the City of Toronto in allowing some spatial reorganization between the Buttonwood school site and City Park would be beneficial to the public interest.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-137620.pdf