Former St. Maurice School Building Set to Become New Daycare Center in McKinley Park

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Mckinley Park · December 25, 2025

McKinley Park families will soon have expanded childcare options as a recently issued Chicago building permit reveals plans to transform the former St. Maurice Catholic Church school lunchroom into a new daycare center. Located at 3619 S. Hoyne Avenue, the property will undergo significant interior renovations according to the permit issued on November 18, 2025.

Smart Learning Centers owner Pian Yue, who purchased the St. Maurice property from the Archdiocese of Chicago, will operate the new daycare facility. The property acquisition also includes the adjacent building at 3625 S. Hoyne Ave., which currently houses the Chicago Public Schools-run Velma Thomas Early Childhood Center. While Chicago Public Schools maintains a ten-year agreement allowing Velma Thomas to remain at its current location, school leaders indicated this summer they continue searching for a "forever home."

This development represents a significant addition to early childhood education resources in McKinley Park, complementing existing options like Montessori Foundations of Chicago and the Velma Thomas Center, which educates three- and four-year-olds in mixed-age, multilingual classrooms. Families interested in learning more about the new daycare center plans can find updates through the McKinley Park Development Council or by contacting Smart Learning Centers directly.

Sources:
1. https://mckinleypark.news/news/7619-permit-points-to-new-daycare-center-at-st-maurice-property
2. https://mckinleypark.news/