Alouette childcare centre sold in confidential sale, will close in January
PARENTS of children at a much-loved childcare centre are seeking answers, after learning the facility would be torn down by an unknown buyer.
Mosman
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CROWS Nest parents are seeking answers, after a local childcare centre was sold to a mystery developer and will close in January.
Alouette Daycare was sold in late August with the neighbouring residence on Rodborough Avenue, taking the business owner Julie Ritzau by surprise.
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“I was shocked,” she said. “For me, having a centre for nine years, we built a rapport with parents and such a great community, and I’m sad for staff because we built such a good team here and now they’ll have to find new places to go.”
Thomas Shanahan, a parent of a child at Alouette, expressed his own concerns.
“We had a childcare centre which was small, and community was at the heart of it, but unfortunately, the commercial reality is that [some] organisation wants to buy a whole street,” Mr Shanahan said, adding that he had attempted to find a development application online, but ultimately could not.
“You’re trying to create a stable environment for kids from 12 months up to learn and make friends, and now they’ve found themselves uprooting their routine, but unfortunately it’s beyond anyone’s control,” he said.
North Sydney Council informed the Mosman Daily that it also could not locate a DA lodged for the lot.
Mr Shanahan said he lobbied councillors and spoke to solicitors to see what could be done about saving Alouette, but to no avail.
“The councillors and the mayor have been very sympathetic, but their hands are tied,” he said. “All the families are very grateful to the staff and educators at Crows Nest for everything they’ve done for our kids. They’ve all said they would stay on until the bitter end.”
Ms Ritzau said her plan is to find another residence for the daycare centre to operate in the area. She had considered signing a new lease with the landlord, Michael Vincent, but claimed she was told it was not in his best interest.
She said she also attempted to extend the lease to late February or mid-March, but said it was understood demolition plans were in place for March or April.
The buyer of the property remains a mystery; Ms Ritzau claims she was told by listing agent Toby Silk from CBRE that it was a confidential sale.
Mr Silk and Mr Vincent were contacted by the Mosman Daily but neither had responded at time of print.
“If any good comes out of it, it will be awareness for other families and centres,” Mr Shanahan said. “You need to be vigilant... speak to local councillors. There needs to be protection for these facilities.”