A four-storey, 52-studio unit supportive housing development on Agassiz Road received the seal of approval by Kelowna city council Monday, but not without thoughtful consideration.
City of Kelowna councillors voted sa国际传媒測essa国际传媒 to the form and character of the BC Housing Midtown Urban Centre project, due to its high quality finishes thorough landscaping detail that creates privacy and adds security; its overall appearance is cohesive with the surrounding neighbourhood.
However, coming on the heels of ongoing protests in the Rutland community over a different BC Housing project to be run by the Canadian Mental Health Association of Kelowna (CMHA) on McCurdy Road, councillors were sensitive with their votes.
READ MORE: Petition started in protest of Kelownasa国际传媒檚 McCurdy Road supportive housing
READ MORE: McCurdy project in Rutland gets go-ahead from Kelowna councillors
Coun. Charlie Hodge said the vote was a battle as he was originally opposed to the Agassiz Road site.
sa国际传媒淚 could find an excuse not to support it with a protest vote,sa国际传媒 he said, in acknowledgement of a protest vote he made against the McCurdy Road supportive housing project. sa国际传媒淏ut, thatsa国际传媒檚 all it would be.sa国际传媒
sa国际传媒淭his is a really well-done, thought-out design,sa国际传媒 he said. sa国际传媒淚 may not have a choice in the building that is going there and why itsa国际传媒檚 there, but I do have a choice to say whether or not I like the look. And I like the look.sa国际传媒
Coun. Loyal Wooldridge said he recognizes the anger and concern some residents are feeling about the lack of support services for those in the community that are facing addiction and seeking recovery.
sa国际传媒淎sking our minister of municipal affairs to stop funding housing would bring us backwards,sa国际传媒 he said.
Instead, Wooldridge urged residents to pass their concerns onto the ministry of health and the ministry of mental health and addictions to seek additional funding for recovery services.
sa国际传媒淭he opioid crisis is a health crisis and there needs to be political will at a provincial, federal and municipal levels to put partisan politics aside and work together to implement long-term solutions,sa国际传媒 he said.
READ MORE: Addiction treatment society looking to manage new BC Housing facility
sa国际传媒淲e wonsa国际传媒檛 solve anything with name calling or attack campaigns based on shame and social division,sa国际传媒 Wooldridge said. sa国际传媒淲e can be critical of policy, past and present, but signs that are calling people junkies and comments saying we should put bullets in homeless peoplesa国际传媒檚 heads will not achieve solutions for anyone on either side of this debate.sa国际传媒
Coun. Brad Sieben echoed his remarks from only a week prior to when the McCurdy Road project was approved.
sa国际传媒淚 think itsa国际传媒檚 absolutely incumbent on BC Housing and the operator to make sure that this does integreate well into the community,sa国际传媒 Coun. Sieben said.
Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .