The Public Planning Act virtual meeting for The Refuge rezoning application of the former Holy Cross School at 357 Simcoe St. S. on Monday, April 12, 2021. Below are the 9 slides for the presentation. The application is to develop the school classrooms to include 28 apartments and the gym to be a Youth Outreach Centre.
Here is a copy of the Report DS-21-67: http://app.oshawa.ca/.../2021/04-12/REPORT_DS-21-66.pdf
There is a copy of a letter from the adjacent property owner (church) with concerns about the proposal's heavy reliance "on the unauthorized use of Church Lands to provide parking, parking access, loading/servicing access via ingress/egress to Albert Street, and site circulation. It asks that the Committee defer any decision on this application "until the City can confirm and satisfy themselves on the merits of the application, absent an assumed reliance on Church Lands to solve the various zoning and site plan problems (i.e. parking spaces, parking location, parking supply, loading, servicing, access, amenity areas, etc.) of the proposal.
There are several other letters both in opposition and in support.
Any questions email Oshawa Senior Planner [email protected] or call Robert Bedic at 905-436-3311
Here is a copy of the Report DS-21-67: http://app.oshawa.ca/.../2021/04-12/REPORT_DS-21-66.pdf
There is a copy of a letter from the adjacent property owner (church) with concerns about the proposal's heavy reliance "on the unauthorized use of Church Lands to provide parking, parking access, loading/servicing access via ingress/egress to Albert Street, and site circulation. It asks that the Committee defer any decision on this application "until the City can confirm and satisfy themselves on the merits of the application, absent an assumed reliance on Church Lands to solve the various zoning and site plan problems (i.e. parking spaces, parking location, parking supply, loading, servicing, access, amenity areas, etc.) of the proposal.
There are several other letters both in opposition and in support.
Any questions email Oshawa Senior Planner [email protected] or call Robert Bedic at 905-436-3311
The Refuge Executive Director Clarence Keesman spoke first. The Refuge moved to 300 Court St. 12 years ago. It is only 250 meters from the planned new site on Simcoe. He discussed struggle to find affordable rental for youth at risk and said he had been in discussion with the owners of the former school site for the past year. Working with indwell.ca/ and an architect from Hamilton.
Next collaborator Brian Moss started on the 2nd slide which shows the front and east sides of the building. He explains the proposal is a creative reuse of former school. The school predates from 1942. The Church next door dates from 1950. The school has been sitting empty for 6 years. It is approx. 30,000 sq.ft. in total. The classrooms are about 20,000 sq.ft. The plan is for 27 studio suites and 1-1 bedroom, with each studio about 250 sq.ft. and each containing a kitchen and washroom. There will be a common room, bike storage...small sitting area outside. The Refuge will have more space, have a gym, activity, and social service agencies will come in to consult with youth patrons. and Brian points out what a wonderful opportunity this is.
The next slides shows floor plans. The lower level will have 5 suites, program space, storage area; the next 2 levels will have more suites and a common laundry area. The will be adding an accessible ramp at front, enhance the landscaping and the north facade will have 5 windows punched in where apartments will be. There will be discreet signage and will be cleaning up building from its existing situation to become another valuable contribution to the community.
Clarence Keesman stresses acuity, how their plan will be targeting the low and mid, not high needs acuity. He tells about a young man who was attending Durham Collage and unable to afford $1,600 for rent when his roommate left. He ended upon the street. To stop youth progressing into chronic homelessness, this is the type of individual they are going to help.
12 years ago when The Refuge was setting up at 300 Court, there were many fears from neighbours, which today they say never materialized. Neighbours see The Refuge is providing solutions. A member of the adjacent Church emailed about the fact there is a need and how she fully supports the project and that the Church would be a good partner. Clarence Keesman closed his remarks saying, some will say we don't need another social service on Simcoe. But all the amenities will be out of the back of the site and will be better than the boarded up space that has had break-ins, squatters and visits from police. Unfortunately their government funding did not come through. However, they are in discussion with the current owner for extensions and are open to all options. The Church next door did not express concern about security. There is an access easement along Simcoe which will remain in place and that this project is too important to give up on.
Here is a link to more of the story about the Refuge's Plan to build affordable housing for youth in Oshawa and its GoFundMe charity page: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/the-refuge-affordable-housing-project?fbclid=IwAR0tqTg-7UjUCqbmRHArpmIY-nrF-K_7IPFyQxf-oL5yl_3J1ZLghAL8K2s
Next collaborator Brian Moss started on the 2nd slide which shows the front and east sides of the building. He explains the proposal is a creative reuse of former school. The school predates from 1942. The Church next door dates from 1950. The school has been sitting empty for 6 years. It is approx. 30,000 sq.ft. in total. The classrooms are about 20,000 sq.ft. The plan is for 27 studio suites and 1-1 bedroom, with each studio about 250 sq.ft. and each containing a kitchen and washroom. There will be a common room, bike storage...small sitting area outside. The Refuge will have more space, have a gym, activity, and social service agencies will come in to consult with youth patrons. and Brian points out what a wonderful opportunity this is.
The next slides shows floor plans. The lower level will have 5 suites, program space, storage area; the next 2 levels will have more suites and a common laundry area. The will be adding an accessible ramp at front, enhance the landscaping and the north facade will have 5 windows punched in where apartments will be. There will be discreet signage and will be cleaning up building from its existing situation to become another valuable contribution to the community.
Clarence Keesman stresses acuity, how their plan will be targeting the low and mid, not high needs acuity. He tells about a young man who was attending Durham Collage and unable to afford $1,600 for rent when his roommate left. He ended upon the street. To stop youth progressing into chronic homelessness, this is the type of individual they are going to help.
12 years ago when The Refuge was setting up at 300 Court, there were many fears from neighbours, which today they say never materialized. Neighbours see The Refuge is providing solutions. A member of the adjacent Church emailed about the fact there is a need and how she fully supports the project and that the Church would be a good partner. Clarence Keesman closed his remarks saying, some will say we don't need another social service on Simcoe. But all the amenities will be out of the back of the site and will be better than the boarded up space that has had break-ins, squatters and visits from police. Unfortunately their government funding did not come through. However, they are in discussion with the current owner for extensions and are open to all options. The Church next door did not express concern about security. There is an access easement along Simcoe which will remain in place and that this project is too important to give up on.
Here is a link to more of the story about the Refuge's Plan to build affordable housing for youth in Oshawa and its GoFundMe charity page: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/the-refuge-affordable-housing-project?fbclid=IwAR0tqTg-7UjUCqbmRHArpmIY-nrF-K_7IPFyQxf-oL5yl_3J1ZLghAL8K2s