CityPlace condo community plans new schools, daycare

CityPlace, one of downtown Toronto's newest neighbourhoods, is set to spend millions to build new schools and daycares in the area as demand for family space grows.

Increasingly, residents of the area's many condo towers are having children and looking for the amenities to support them.

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"Five years ago it was just bachelors, just couples and year by year it went by we started seeing you know more and more kids," said parent Marco Spoltore.

Father Marco Spoltore, right, said while CityPlace was mostly young singles when it was first built, there's now a growing number of families in the neighbourhood. (Makda Ghebrelassie/CBC)Now, there's a $55 million complex in the works that will house two schools, one public and one Catholic, a daycare and a community centre. The 150,000 square foot building, which is still in its design phase, will be paid for with development fees and is set to be completed by 2019.

Mom Sharon Chen said the development will be a welcome addition to the under-serviced neighbourhood.

"We're looking for a daycare … it's very difficult in this area."

Others, however, aren't sure another building in the area is the way to go.

"I feel like money can be invested in an existing school and more kids can go there," said Nadine Sookermany.

Area Councillor Joe Cressy says due to the rapid growth in the area, it can't be just one or the other.

"In the last 20 years we've seen more than 25,000 residents move into the catchment area for this new school," he said.

Because of the price of Toronto housing, many are expected to continue living in dense condo communities like CityPlace.