Not in my neighbourhood: Residents want planned transitional housing project moved
It was a decision made back in August, but now Sudbury residents are speaking up.
City council decided to move forward with a transitional housing project and even decided on a location, but a new petition is hoping to change that.
City councillors meet with Lorraine Street residents about petition against planned transitional housing project. Oct. 24/21 (Molly Frommer/CTV Northern Ontario)
When the word got out about the proposed housing complex on Lorraine Street, off Lasalle Boulevard near Notre Dame Avenue, residents in the area started a petition with many saying they think the city should move it closer to the downtown core.
"The reason why is all the services are downtown and they have established a community for themselves downtown. So, what we feel is that they are just moving the area from one area to another area. Something like this should not be in any neighbourhood. Especially a residential area," Maria Biasucci, a nearby resident.
"My house is directly across the street. I have a young son, he is 10 years old and I don’t want him to be witnessing things that he does not need to see," said Jason Violino, another neighbourhood resident.
More than 350 people signed the petition so far.
Petition against planned transitional housing project in Sudbury. Oct. 25/21 (Molly Frommer/CTV Northern Ontario)
"We realize we do have a homeless situation that has to be dealt with, it is getting worse and worse. I really think that city council has to re-evaluate this because, again, of the surroundings and people living in the area. All the other services are downtown. It’s just common sense," said Gerry Martel, another concerned resident.
Some city councillors said that at the time when voting took place, they were in favour of the housing complex being situated on Lorraine Street, but since talking to nearby residents, they have decided another location should be discussed.
"I did make a mistake on my vote. We didn’t have enough information in front of us. Things were too rushed for us so we couldn’t make a proper decision and the money was there and we had to act on it but that’s not stopping us from re-evaluating things," said Bill Leduc, Sudbury city councillor for Ward 11.
The housing project location is part of the city's Ward 5, represented by Robert Kirwan.
"Three-hundred-fifty signatures means that there’s a lot of people in this area, but I was also told that there’s a lot of people from outside this area, who again, they aren’t worried about it being in their area. They are saying the best place for transitional housing programs like this is downtown where you got all of the services," Kirwan said.
The city councillor said he will deliver this petition at the planning committee meeting on Monday and that city staff members are planning a public meeting, which will hopefully take place within two to three weeks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
What a U.S. farmworker’s case of bird flu tells us about tracking the infection
A U.S. farmworker who caught bird flu after working with dairy cattle in Texas appears to be the first known case of mammal-to-human transmission of the virus, a new study shows.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
Canadian Auger-Aliassime reaches first Masters final in Madrid with another walkover
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to his first ATP Masters final, and he hasn't had to play all that much tennis to do it.