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Parkview Motel neighbours question appropriateness of supportive housing project

Public meeting not about 'who the end users may be,' mayor stresses to delegates

A permanent supportive housing project proposed for the Parkview Motel on Woolwich Street isn’t suitable for the area, several nearby residents told city council during a public meeting on Monday evening.

“There are no examples of this type of development in a high-density area,” said Marilyn Drive resident Bill Wootton, suggesting the area’s “hundreds and hundreds” of “vulnerable seniors” are being used as “guinea pigs” to test the concept of converting motels for supportive housing. “They’re scared as hell.

“Nobody is arguing about the need for this type of facility,” he added, suggesting it's not the right location for it – a sentiment shared by several other delegates who expressed concerns.

Mayor Cam Guthrie interrupted Wootton and numerous other delegations, for and against the proposal, reminding them to keep their comments to the zoning application at hand.

“This is not a decision night,” he added, noting that will come after city staff further review the application and comments received in order to prepare a recommendation to council. “We’re not here to talk about homelessness or who the end users may be.”

The meeting was held to gather public input regarding a series of zoning bylaw amendments requested for the project at 721 Woolwich Street, on the northeast corner of the intersection of Woolwich Street and Marilyn Drive, near Riverside Park. 

In collaboration with the Drop-in Welcome In Centre, which is spearheading the initiative, the motel’s current owners have applied for a zoning amendment to switch the site’s use for a permanent supportive housing facility with up to 32 units, along with 13 parking spaces (down from the currently required 45 spots for a residential development of its size).

Several setback reductions have also been asked for, though the building’s footprint isn’t expected to change, said Andrea Sinclair of MHBC Planning. 

“It recognizes what’s there now,” she told council. “It’s fairly common on an older building.”

The project includes converting motel rooms into bachelor apartments to be leased to currently homeless city residents, with support services available “24/7,” explained Sinclair.

Renovations are planned to enlarge windows, widen a hallway to improve accessibility, and remove a parking space along with increasing green space.

“There’s likely not going to be any parking needs for tenants,” she added, stating spaces are intended for staff, service providers and visitors.

Marilyn Drive resident Clyde Bond questions whether the zoning amendments could set a precedence for other projects.

“Is this the beginning of a slippery slope?” he asked, referring to it as a “pet project of some councillors” and suggesting the process “doesn’t appear to be fair.”

Parkview Motel has been a pain in the butt for everyone,” Bond added, listing neighbours, police, paramedics and more.

The motel has been used as a shelter overflow location since the 1980s.

“Grace Gardens would be the opposite of a shelter,” said Gail Hoekstra, executive director of the drop-in centre, referring to the project’s planned name.

“We want to move away from a shelter model and bring change into housing people and creating a residence that they can call home.”

If the project doesn’t come to fruition, Hoekstra said the motel would continue to be used as an overflow shelter.

Responding to a question from Coun. Phil Allt, she explained 32 units was chosen to allow the project to “start small and built up” with potential expansion in the future.

“I think this is going to be a big improvement to this site,” said Marilyn Drive resident Jeanette Brown, adding she resents the use of stereotypes about seniors by some project opponents. “I have no fear of our new neighbours who will be living at Grace Gardens.”

The name Grace Gardens, explained Hoekstra, is in recognition of Grace Frank, a longtime drop-in centre supporter who left a large financial donation to the centre when she died.


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Richard Vivian

About the Author: Richard Vivian

Richard Vivian is an award-winning journalist and longtime Guelph resident. He joined the GuelphToday team as assistant editor in 2020, largely covering municipal matters and general assignment duties
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