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Place for sale in quiet Korah neighbourhood. Swings, jungle gym and city park not included

Wanna buy this former daycare?
20180825-JessieIrving-JK-1
Amanda Piercy and her son Garson, 5, leave Jessie Irving Children's Centre for the second-last time on Aug. 24. The daycare was closed by the city the following day. Jeff Klassen/SooToday

The former Jessie Irving Children's Centre has been declared surplus and will be offered for sale by the City of Sault Ste. Marie.

The centre at 84 Ruth St. closed its doors on Aug. 25, the last of two city-run daycares closed after a controversial City Council decision in March to get out of the municipal child-care business.

The move ended a 40-year local tradition of city-run daycare.

The Ruth St. property is zoned for institutional use.

Sale of the building comes at the request of Tom Vair, the city's deputy chief administrative officer for community development and enterprise services.

City Council agreed this past week to sell the facility while retaining the city-owned Ruth Street Park across the street.

"Given that the nearest other park is more than half a kilometre away, the planning department suggests we keep Ruth Street Park," said Nuala Kenny, city solicitor, in a memorandum to Mayor Christian Provenzano and city councillors.

The property is used as a turnaround for garbage trucks and snow-removal equipment and prospective purchasers will be required to allow continued use for that purpose.

Other news from the most recent City Council meeting:

  • another city-owned property at 53 Fournier Rd. was declared surplus and will be offered for sale at the request of neighbour Chad Edgar
  • Edward and Carol Briglio will soon be a dollar richer. The city will pay that amount to acquire part of the Briglio's property at 4992 Third Line West. A recent title search revealed that the land is being used as part of the roadway. The city will pay all costs of the land acquisition
  • Michael Blaire Maguire and Jennifer Jean Souchdereau will also be offered a loonie for part of their property at 5012 Third Line West, which is similarly being used by Third Line West
  • the city will buy a 2019 Freightliner 108 tandem truck, complete with plow, wing and dump box, from the Sault's TMS Truck Centre Ltd. for $201,998
  • a 2017 Trackless four-wheel-drive municipal tractor with snow blower, plows and sweeper will be purchased from Work Equipment Ltd. of Courtland, Ontario for $159,920
  • a 2016 Jacobsen diesel riding mower with front and side folding mower decks will be supplied by G.C. Duke Equipment Ltd. of Burlington for $94,175

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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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