Calgary’s Drop-In Centre says it is moving forward with plans for a housing project despite losing an Alberta government grant.
The controversial plan to develop living units for its homeless clients no longer has $5.2 million in provincial grant money.
It is on the site of the former Quality Inn on Edmonton Trail, but the Thorncliffe community opposes the plans.
One of the conditions for provincial money was community support, but the agency insists that will not stop the project.
“We are determined that it will proceed,” said Andy Lockhart, board chair of the Calgary Drop-In Centre (DI).
“I don’t know if at this stage confidence is an appropriate word. We are going to take this as far as we can.”
During three years of public consultations, the DI altered the design plan to increase density bringing in more clients transitioning out of homeless shelters, and that plan ran into opposition from the surrounding community.
The Thorncliffe Greenview Community Association says it is not opposed to re-development of this site for affordable housing, but there is so much bad blood and mistrust between the community and agency, it would prefer someone else take over the project.
“It’s about the confidence that one can develop with an agency, a plan and a project and that’s severely lacking right now,” said Marvin Quashnick with the Thorncliffe Greenview Community Association.
“So I think with a better plan and a better agency we could go forth and support this.”
The community claims it prefers a mix of affordable housing and green space.
The DI says it is also flexible on the design plans.
An Alberta government spokesperson says it is in discussions with the centre about getting the money back, and spending it on other affordable housing projects in Calgary.
The DI has applied for a municipal development permit for the project, and says that application is still winding its way through Calgary city hall while it continues to discuss the funding issue with the province.
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