It will cost $2.3 million to demolish and build a new Willowdale Child Care Centre here.
Wellington County council officially approved the $150,000 land purchase from the City of Guelph and the $1.86 million construction tender from Devlan Construction at its March 27 meeting.
The total price tag is estimated at $2,375,000 million with architectural and professional fees, demolition of the current building and a $178,000 contingency fund.
Council got its first glimpse of the building design in a presentation by Edward Bourdeau, associate partner with VG Architects.
Bourdeau said the facility has operated as a child care centre for the past 35 years with the city owning the building and the county operating the facility.
Willowdale was closed by the county last year after asbestos was discovered and efforts to remove it failed, forcing about 55 families to find alternative care for their children.
The county and city were unsuccessful in finding another building for the child care centre, which led to the purchase and plan to demolish and build a new one.
Bourdeau said the plan is to use wood and stone in much of the building which will house infants, toddlers and pre-school children in about 4,600 square feet.
The plan will see the different age groups housed in their own rooms, with a fourth multi-purpose room available for any future expansion. The facility will also have offices and a room designated for family space with access to a new playground from the childrens’ rooms.
Bourdeau said the Willowdale location is ideal for the centre because it is bounded by several apartments and other residences, two schools and some green space.
“It’s an excellent site because it forms a sort of campus for two elementary schools,” he told council.
The front of the building will feature six parking spaces for easy drop-off and pick-up of children attending the facility. Public and staff parking will be in a different location.
Warden Chris White told the Advertiser after the meeting the county is hoping to see the building operating by the end of the year.
Enrolment numbers won’t be known until the child care centre opens, he added.
