The purpose of this public notice is to share information about the construction activity taking place at the former Sundial Pavilion site at 99 Barnham Street.
Following a Council-approved process, the Sundial Pavilion and the associated lands were sold to School House Playcare Centre of Durham (SHPCD) in October 2025 to facilitate the development of a new childcare facility and community hub. Once complete, the facility is expected to open in fall 2026 and will provide licensed childcare, child and youth programs, community events, PA Day and winter break camps, and rentals for child and family events. For more information, visit www.schoolhouseplaycare.ca/mulberry-meadows.
As part of completing the sale, the Town finalized a boundary adjustment to retain the public sidewalks surrounding the block in municipal ownership while providing sufficient space for parking, outdoor amenities, and other site features required to support the childcare facility and community hub. These adjustments were necessary to satisfy municipal planning requirements and Ministry of Education licensing requirements. The majority of lands remain in public ownership, including the open greenspace and Sundial Parkette.
Since taking ownership, SHPCD has been advancing the approvals required to establish the facility, including obtaining a building permit for interior renovations. The Town is currently reviewing the owner’s plans for the proposed exterior works to ensure they meet applicable municipal standards and requirements, including grading, drainage, servicing, sufficient parking, tree preservation, and landscaping. This review is a standard part of the development process for private property. While the Town ensures compliance with applicable standards and regulations, it cannot require a private property owner to adopt a particular site design beyond those requirements.
Town staff are also working closely with the owner and construction team to monitor construction activity, minimize disruption to the surrounding neighbourhood where feasible, and address issues that may arise during the construction process.
Residents with questions or concerns regarding the construction are encouraged to contact Planning and Development Services at 905-619-2529 or planningservices@ajax.ca. Staff will respond to inquiries and work to address concerns in a timely manner.