Couple of questions:
- Why would the TDSB abandon a Teeple-designed school that's fewer than 20 years old (and that they were very publicly proud of when completed)?
The TDSB is already considering it.
The school is over capacity.
At the very least it needs a significant addition which would trigger a major renovation.
They have already had discussions with a developer of a nearby site; but they didn't come to a deal.
- Who pays to build a brand new school on the new site?
The TDSB site is worth more to the developers than their equivalent land to the south.
The height permissions will be taller just by being on Eglinton; but additionally, by being on the north side of the school there is no shadowing concern as a limiting factor.
- The Dollarama + Plaza site is a little bit less than half the size of the existing school site - who makes up the difference and where?
- Who pays to reimburse Menkes for the townhouses if they come into play too?
The total re-arrangement I propose involves 3 developers/parcels; they all shift north; they all get height benefits; the TDSB claims the land to the south.
The difference in real estate value (in large part from the additional height permissions) covers some mix of additional land for the TDSB (a small amount); and partial reconstruction cost; with the MOE grant that would cover a large addition/reno covering the balance.
Edit to Add:
In my discussions, I also mooted that Oxford is having a school requested of it at C-Square.
That all other things being equal, Oxford would rather not; it's a very challenging site to provide some kind of school yard on, and the land is worth more to the City/Oxford at that corner than the Mt. Pleasant one.
It's possible Oxford could pay a small sum towards this in exchange for avoiding the obligation to build a school on its site.
