Re: what?
Globe and Mail- Shelter project on hold
A proposal to spend $4.7-million on a defunct nightclub and turn it into a homeless shelter and referral centre in the heart of the Toronto's entertainment district found few supporters at city hall yesterday.
The idea, made public in recent weeks, would see the city use federal homelessness funding to buy the former Fez Batik nightclub at Peter and Richmond Streets and turn it into an intake centre for the homeless that would also include a 40-bed emergency shelter.
The proposal raised concerns among local property owners, nightclub owners and nearby residents, who addressed a city council committee yesterday.
Councillor Adam Vaughan supports the idea, saying the homeless in the area need the help. But council's general government committee voted to defer the plan for a month, telling bureaucrats to keep looking for cheaper real estate.
Mr. Vaughan agreed that the city should look for the best deal, but dismissed other concerns raised by nightclub owners, saying they were responsible for the neighbourhood's No. 1 problem: "hooligans" who cram into the club district on weekends, creating noise and police headaches.
"If there's a fear that this is an inappropriate place for homeless people to sleep indoors at night, imagine owning a condo in the area," Mr. Vaughan said.
City officials say they need a new downtown referral and assessment centre for the homeless, as the current facility, just north of city hall at 110 Edward St., will close next month to be converted into 300 apartments of affordable housing. They say the city's streets-to-homes program has helped more than 1,000 homeless find apartments.
It was unclear what impact yesterday's delay might have on Ottawa's funding, which is predicated on the purchase of the former nightclub, according to Phil Brown, the city's manager of shelter and housing.
The proposed shelter, along with other possible locations, is now scheduled to come before council in late May, which may make it hard for the city to buy the Peter Street property. City staff have an agreement that gives them only until May 31 to sign that deal.
Officials have been in talks with the property owner, Alderley Edge Investments