London’s Planning and Environment Committee has voted to introduce a request to City Council to rezone an unused building on Wellington Road in the city’s south end.
The rezoning would allow a wide range of additional uses for the building, including medical clinics and labs, as well as emergency care establishments. The latter has raised concern among the adjacent neighbourhood’s residents that the building could be converted into a hub for the city’s homeless population.
After listening to the public’s concerns, the committee amended the motion to remove emergency care establishments from the list of approved uses, while still voting to allow the rest.
The request for rezoning was submitted by Zelinka Priamo Ltd., the land use planning company which represents the owners of the building, The Focal Point Group. The planning company says the application for rezoning is simply about opening up a wider range of uses for the building.
“It was our client’s original intent to offer this site as a potential hub location to assist in addressing the needs of the homeless,” says Harry Froussios, who was speaking on behalf of the company. “We acknowledge that this application…is not for a hub.”
He went on to say there is a separate process for creating a hub and that would need to be done at a later time, if his client still wanted to offer the space for that purpose.
But Froussios’ statements did little to assuage the community members’ fears.
“I am not going to rob you, today,” says Nikola Pasic, who attended the meeting to give his input. “If somebody came to your door and said that to you, what would you think? The emphasis is on ‘today.’”
Pasic continued his analogy to point out that while the building owner may not be converting it into a hub right now, the rezoning would leave that option on the table going forward.
The concerns of community members included safety for children, elderly and disabled people walking in the neighbourhood, as well as the effects a hub could have on property values, and the potential for increased theft and vandalism.
Some committee members, however, were supportive of converting the building into a hub.
“We don’t have a lot of people stepping forward who are willing to invest money into creating shelters and creating hubs,” says Councillor Skylar Franke, voicing her appreciation for the building’s owner and his initiative.
Councillor Elizabeth Peloza also joined the meeting (although not a member of the committee) as she represents Ward 12, where the building is located. She expressed apprehension at the amendment to exclude emergency care establishments from the final motion.
“My concern is if we remove the emergency care establishment, as a council, we’d be sending a signal to the community at large… that we don’t believe in our own plan.”
The committee’s decision to approve the rezoning application without the emergency care establishment use included will be sent to council for a final vote at their June 4 meeting.
Jack Sutton and Georgia Newman
XFM News
