The Mount Pleasant and Manor Road area is a neighbourhood bereft of green space. So when councillor Josh Matlow heard that a nearby church was hoping to sell part of its grounds to the city, he leaped at the chance to secure the space. Now in the final stages of the sale, Toronto City Council has approved the acquisition report and lawyers are finalizing the details.
In 2014, The City of Toronto became interested in securing two properties a few blocks away from each other for use as public parks. A portion of Manor Road United Church’s property and Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club Ltd.
But the city was unable to purchase the lawn bowling club, as it was then sold to developer Michael Volpentesta in 2014.
With the Eglinton Avenue corridor anticipated to have an increase in residential development, generated from construction of the Eglinton Crosstown light rail transit line, city staff have identified it as a priority area for parkland.
According to Andrew Athanasiu, senior policy advisor to Coun. Matlow, the developer [Michael Volpentesta] has entered into negotiations to sell the land.
“So that’s a positive, and the fact that those talks are ongoing is also a positive,” said Athanasiu.
If both properties are acquired, the new space will be designed to function as two halves of a larger neighbourhood park.
The acquisition report for 1,300 m2 of land at 240 Manor Rd. E. was approved by city council in May.
“The lawyers are [just] dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s,” said Rev. Debra Schneider of Manor Road United. “It’s very close to a done deal, though not everything is signed, sealed and delivered just yet.”
Assuming they do not have to go to the Committee of Adjustment for any conditions upon approval, the educational unit on site will be demolished, and the lower level of the church will be rented out in its entirety to include a children’s daycare.
Schneider anticipates that construction on the church will occur over the summer, and the city will likely begin work on the park in the summer of 2016.
