(Tuesday, January 10, 2012) – Halifax Regional Municipality, through its Real Estate division, worked closely with the administration of a St. Joseph’s Children’s Centre beginning in August, to offer extensions while the centre sought a new location.

 

“At all times we have dealt with the daycare openly and respectfully, acknowledging that they need time to make alternative arrangements,” said HRM Chief Administrative Officer Richard Butts. “We have provided as much notice as we could and we have given lease extensions in an effort to support St. Joseph’s Children’s Centre.”

 

Attached are three letters from HRM to the executive of the daycare recognizing the relocation challenges and detailing the terms of three lease extensions granted since September 2011. Following three extensions granted in writing, a verbal extension until the end of January was also provided.

 

The daycare's contractual relationship was originally with the Halifax Regional School (HRSB), which declared the school containing the daycare surplus to its needs in March 2009, with a plan for the school to close by September 1, 2011. HRM offered St. Joseph’s Children’s Centre a series of lease extensions to assist and accommodate the organization while a new location was sought.

 

The daycare was aware that its time within the former school was short-lived, and sought lease extensions first from the HRSB and then from HRM. The time line is as follows:

 

March 2009 – HRSB approves school closure end of 10/11 school year.

May 9, 2011 – St. Joseph's Daycare requested an extension from HRSB for the month of July, 2011

Early summer 2011 – HRSB granted further extension to the daycare until September 1st.

August 29, 2011 – HRM sends letter to St. Joseph’s executive acknowledging request for lease extension and challenges of relocation, offers daycare lease extension until Dec. 1, 2011 (see attached letter).

September 1, 2011 – HRM takes possession of building.

September 8, 2011 – HRM holds Meeting held with daycare administration regarding transition and agreement on lease extension granted by HRM to December 1, 2011.

October, 17, 2011 – HRM sends follow up letter set outlining lease extension (see attached letter).

November 8, 2011 – HRM grants second lease extension until Jan. 1, 2012 (see attached letter).

December 13, 2011 – Request for Proposals awarded to JONO Developments.

December 23, 2011 – HRM provides verbal extension granted to St. Joseph's until Jan.31, 2012 with final date to vacate.

January 10, 2012 – Reaffirmed that the site will be sold as vacant and that HRM can no longer grant any further extensions to St. Joseph's Daycare.

 

Source: Release