Council to consider selling property after opposition to supportive housing project

Many residents living near a home on Palmerston Cres want no part of the project after the City purchased the property last month.

A proposed supportive housing project in the west end of Kingston is drawing the ire of area residents.

The City purchased a house on Palmerston Cres. in December for approximately $800,000. They were planning to covert it to a supportive housing unit that can accommodate up to seven people.

There is a motion that will be presented at Tuesday's City Council meeting to remove the property from consideration and put it back on the market.

Cllr. Lisa Osanic put forward the motion as the house is in her district. 

She says the main sticking point is the walkway that is next to the property which children often use to get to school as well as Woodbine Park and splash pad.

Residents living near the house are concerned about the risks that may pose in particular, drug use.

But Osanic says potential residents of the home will need to meet certain qualifications in order to live there.

Osanic believes there has not been enough information available and that is why residents are pushing back on the idea of putting a supportive housing unit there.

She says it will not be just residents that will be feeling the anxiety.

If the motion fails, the city plans to hold a public meeting on the supportive housing project in February.

Story by Ken Hashizume