Plans for a proposed permanent supportive housing project in the Onward Willow neighbourhood, while generally needed, don’t fit the property and leave families in the cold, several area residents told council on Monday.
Those comments came during a public meeting held to garner feedback to a series of requested zoning amendments that would open the door for a five-storey, 32-unit project, with 24-hour support services provided, at the back of 85 and 89 Willow Rd. and accessed through an easement off Shelldale Crescent.
“While I admire the aims of this project, I do not think it’s compatible with the proposed location, both in terms of the local community as well as the specific property,” said James Gollinger, who lives within “five-minutes” of the site. “The proposed development, while boasting several supports desirable to families in need, it’s completely inaccessible to them given the design – only bachelor units will be built.”
The project is proposed in partnership between Kindle Communities, Guelph Community Health Centre (GCHC) and the current owners of the two properties – Skyline Group of Companies and Starlight Investments.
If ultimately approved, the owners intend to sever about 0.5-hectares of land off the rear of each property and donate it to Kindle, with the parcels joined to create a new lot. Both addresses are home to a six-storey apartment building with parking in the back.
A number of concerns with the plan were raised on Monday, including the elimination of greenspace for the existing apartment tenants, the impact of project tenants on an “already marginalized neighbourhood with many immigrants,” access for emergency vehicles, a reduction in the required parking spaces and safety.
Questions were also raised about the public consultation process that’s been followed, though proponents noted they’ve held a number of meetings and conversations with area residents that went above and beyond what’s required, including two open houses held in December.
“This is not just a project, it’s an opportunity to provide 32 people with a place they can be proud to live and call home,” said Sheila Markle, Kindle’s chief executive officer. “We take pride in this community and are committed to its success.
“This won’t be a place to just house people.”
Kindle operates Shelldale Centre to the property’s immediate north, where GCHC offers a range of services.
Meeting delegates pointed out a number of neighbourhood demographics, including the arrival of many immigrants and refugees in the past few years, a “high percentage” of low-income and “many” single-parent households, with many children who have experienced “multiple trauma” in their early years.
“There’s a stigma attached to our neighbourhood,” said Donna Haskett. “We are a high priority, high needs population and extremely marginalized.
“It is unquestionable that immediate vicinity for this plan is highly inadequate for this plan on many levels,” she added, pointing to neighbouring Willow Road Public School and Willowdale Child Care & Learning centre.
An immigrant from Nigeria, neighbourhood resident Elisha Ogbonna criticized efforts to community consultation efforts, noting they were promoted in English and not translated into languages some residents could understand. He also noted the fear of “so many people” that speaking out could result in the loss of their job and/or home, given they live in buildings owned by the proponents.
Gollinger also questioned what would happen to the building if provincial funding for the supportive housing project was cut, as he said had been done to an initiative in London – there would still be an approved residential building there.
“That is worth council to consider,” he said, noting the potential precedence it would set.
Council also heard from a few delegates who expressed support for the initiative.
“It’s the right project, in the right place, at the right time,” said Sandy Clipsham, who lives within a short walk of the site. “There really is no wrong location in the city.
“This is the greatest thing we could do for housing in Guelph.”
