The Ontario government is investing $44 million to build a new elementary school in a super innovative and accessible area for working families in the city — the third floor of a Toronto condo building.
The new Lower Yonge Precinct Elementary School will be part of a mixed-use condominium project — a collaboration between the province, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), and Menkes Developments — and will provide more student accommodations for the lower Yonge and waterfront neighbourhoods.
According to provincial officials, once complete, the new school could be replicated as an innovative solution to meeting the educational needs of working families in urban and high-density environments.
The investment will support families in urban communities in the city of Toronto (through the TDSB) and will be able to host 455 students at the Yonge and Harbour location.
The completion date is set for the 2024-25 school year.
“With many families living in condos and high-density urban communities, we believe their children deserve access to modern and safe schools in the hearts of their communities,” Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, said in a statement. “I am proud to deliver this progressive urban school within a high-density condominium project. This innovative partnership will provide access for young families to a state-of-the-art school in the heart of Toronto.”
Appreciate the strong collaboration with @Thompson_37, @StephMDonaldson, @tdsb, & parent advocates.
Our government is leading the way with this state-of-the-art $44 million investment in the @cityoftoronto.
? Learn more: https://t.co/CiPwI87E9t
— Stephen Lecce (@Sflecce) January 21, 2022
In addition to the elementary school, the City of Toronto has secured space for a childcare centre on the second floor of the building.
“If we want to build up this city and our neighbourhoods, we need to ensure that residents have access to all the services they need, including schools – this is one example of how we will achieve this,” said Mayor John Tory in a statement.
The project is part of a provincewide investment of more than $600 million to support new school and childcare spaces—the investment is part of the Ontario government’s commitment to provide $14 billion to support school construction over 10 years.
There are currently more than 300 childcare and education building-related projects in development across Ontario, with more than 100 actively under construction.
