Mimico church submits revised plans to city for new seniors housing

Etobicoke Guardian

Wesley Mimico United Church officials are cautiously optimistic, but hopeful that their final redevelopment proposal will be supported by city planners and councillors.

Revised plans reflect significant changes and is the result of many conversations with community residents, congregational members, city heritage and planning staff, and consultation with many community groups and leaders, the church states in its Feb. 19 application submission letter to Kathryn Thom, a senior city planner heading the file.

Wesley Mimico Place, as the redevelopment is being called, is intended to repurpose, renew and add to the original 1922 church.

It proposes to preserve heritage aspects of the building, add seniors ownership housing crucial to raising the necessary capital to preserve the property, church officials argue, and add 4,000 square feet of flexible community program space.

Changes in the new application include: reducing the seniors units from 40 to 30; an increase in community outreach space, and the provision of residents outdoor amenity space.

We think weve done a lot of work to respond seriously to neighbourhood concerns from a few people, Harry Oussoren, president of Wesley Mimico Place corporation, said in an interview this week.

We believe were riding a crest of support. Community people are saying, Its a no-brainer. Get on with it. It comes at no cost to the city. It provides housing and community space in the area. Its part of the revitalization of Mimico.

In February 2012, a group of Mimico residents formed to promote the importance and preservation of the 1922 church for its architectural significance, and as a prominent physical and contextual landmark on the main street of the old town of Mimico.

The group created http://www.savewesley.com

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Mimico church submits revised plans to city for new seniors housing