New home for Boys and Girls Club cancelled.
After a review, The Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club has put their plans on hold to renovate this building on Ernest Avenue.
Staff photo/NICK PERRY
A plan by a local organization to open a permanent centre serving youth in the Junction Triangle has been put on hold indefinitely "after a careful review", said the group's operations manager.
Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club late last year appealed to the community for financial and in-kind help to move children from the temporary location at 120 Perth Ave. into a new facility at 45 Ernest Ave., a 7,000-sq. ft. building in the Perth Avenue and Bloor Street West area. The hope of the club's former executive director was to have the centre ready by Christmas of 2009.
But Justin Hanna, the club's operations manager, said the project was rushed. Hanna could not be reached for comment on the matter, but he issued a statement Sept. 8 explaining why the project was cancelled.
"This was not an easy decision and no one was happy to make it," noted Hanna.
In the statement he explained the reasons behind the decision, noting he took over from retired executive director Tony Puopolo in April.
"At that time, I began a full review of our organization and a review of our capital projects," he noted. "The project at 45 Ernest Ave. was one that was rushed into by the previous administration, one that was never properly evaluated for its site use requirements, effectiveness or economic feasibility."
But while the project has been cancelled for now, he assured in the statement efforts toward a permanent home will continue.
"While I am delaying this promise, please know I intend to keep it," he noted.
Hanna explained that over the next few weeks, "senior staff will be meeting to form a working group tasked with compiling an executive plan written, designed and published specifically for the Junction Triangle community", adding he hopes the plan will be completed by spring 2011.
In the meantime, staff at the Junction Triangle Boys and Girls Club currently operating at 120 Perth Ave. "are excited to begin a new school year and are committed to providing top-notch after school programs", noted Hanna.
Prior to the announcement regarding 45 Ernest Ave., Hanna told The Villager work on the club's location at 180 Westmoreland Ave., which will add a second floor to the facility, was set to begin. Once complete, that site will boast more than 5,000 additional square feet including a greenhouse, a theatre-dance studio, a planetarium and science room, a teen lounge and computer room.
The start of construction, expected shortly after Labour Day, marks the end of a six-year capital campaign aimed at raising $1.5 million, a goal that was exceeded, according to Hanna.
The Westmoreland site expansion is expected to be complete by spring 2011.
- with files from Lisa Rainford