{"id":5559,"date":"2023-02-15T13:28:47","date_gmt":"2023-02-15T17:28:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluedoor.ca\/?p=5559"},"modified":"2023-08-03T16:01:05","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T20:01:05","slug":"york-region-aurora-residents-at-odds-over-new-emergency-housing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluedoor.ca\/york-region-aurora-residents-at-odds-over-new-emergency-housing\/","title":{"rendered":"York Region, Aurora residents at odds over new emergency housing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted on: February 8th, 2023. By: Joseph Quigley, newmarkettoday.ca, Original Article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

‘We hope that councillors make the right choice and not just the popular choice,’ Blue Door CEO says as Aurora weighs new facility proposal on Yonge Street<\/strong><\/div>\n

Blue Door CEO Michael Braithwaite said residents criticizing and expressing concern about new transitional housing is typical.<\/p>\n

Aurora residents came out in force to a public planning meeting last month\u00a0to oppose a Housing York proposal\u00a0<\/a>to build a new 55-unit transitional and emergency facility at 14452\u00a0Yonge St., meant to replace Blue Door\u2019s aging Porter Place facility. Many area residents made arguments against the location and its proximity to train tracks and a sewage station, and expressed concern about decreased property values and increased crime.<\/p>\n

Braithwaite said opposition always emerges\u00a0when building new housing facilities, but proponents have\u00a0got through it by \u201cpulling the community together, by creating an understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were able to push these projects forward too, so I have great hope for this one.\u201d<\/p>\n

The project is in limbo<\/a>\u00a0after the Aurora council opted not to approve\u00a0a zoning bylaw amendment due to concerns. Instead, council indicated they want another public meeting on the proposal for the building that would be\u00a0by a sewage pumping station on the York Region-owned property.<\/p>\n

Area resident Mike Zelyony is one of the residents opposed to the project at this location and told the council residents have \u201clawyered up\u201d to fight it. He said there are plans to form a ratepayers association and that \u201call options remain on the table\u201d for future opposition.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was clear in the meeting that there are countless issues with this proposal,\u201d Zelyony said. “It was evident at the end of the public planning meeting that the application could not move forward.”<\/p>\n

Region planners have said they examined other spots but chose this property\u00a0due to its central location, with proximity to transit, employment and services. It is also land already owned by York Region, versus purchasing something elsewhere at a high cost.<\/p>\n

York Region commissioner of community and health services Katherine Chislett said they will consider the concerns raised and work to address them.<\/p>\n

\u201cHousing is a human right and is a foundation of strong, caring, safe communities. We look forward to continuing to work with the Town of Aurora and our community partners to build a safe space for men experiencing homelessness where they can access the supports and services they need to find and keep housing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

In its council presentation, the region has also said that properties next to Housing York buildings have still appreciated in value. It also said there is no evidence to substantiate the idea that this kind of housing leads to increased crime, and there would be trained\u00a0staff on-site 24 hours a day.<\/p>\n

But some area residents believe the location needs further study.\u00a0Zelyony said it could be better placed closer to a denser population centre.<\/p>\n

He said the opposition is not strictly because of residents not wanting proximity but due to the \u201cinappropriateness of the location.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe specific site issues mentioned of zoning, planning, environmental, noise and proximity to the high-capacity sewage pumping station and train tracks, rise far beyond the simple question of its proximity to the residents,\u201d he said. \u201cIt seems the location was chosen for expediency rather than suitability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blue Door hopes to be chosen by the region\u00a0to run the new facility, but there is a process for Housing York to decide that.<\/p>\n

But\u00a0Braithwaite said he supports more transitional housing regardless. He said he trusts in the processes of York Region and Housing York planners and they do not \u201ctake this kind of thing lightly.\u201d<\/p>\n

People say \u201cwe understand the need. We just don\u2019t think this is the right spot,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s never, in my experience, \u2018This is the perfect spot.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The current location of Porter Place in East Gwillimbury is an issue in how distant\u00a0it is for its clients to access some services, Braithwaite said.<\/p>\n

However, he said he is empathetic to the concerns, and there is a need to answer questions. As far as worries about the homeless population itself, such as the concern raised by some residents about increased criminality, Braithwaite said bringing in someone who can offer lived experiences could help.<\/p>\n

Regardless, the decision will be with Aurora council. But Braithwaite said he hopes they will properly consider the building if questions and concerns can be answered sufficiently.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou hope that the councillors make the right choice and not just the popular choice.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Posted on: February 8th, 2023. By: Joseph Quigley, newmarkettoday.ca, Original Article. ‘We hope that councillors make the right choice and not just the popular choice,’ Blue Door CEO says as Aurora weighs new facility proposal on Yonge Street Blue Door CEO Michael Braithwaite said residents criticizing and expressing concern about new transitional housing is typical. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5560,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t