Supportive housing plans coalesce in Chatham

By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice

Another step has been taken towards developing a supportive housing complex at the Meadow Park site in Chatham.

At the April 28 meeting, council voted 12-5 to approve a recommendation from administration to proceed with a request for proposal for the redesign of the facility located at 110 Sandys St.

According to a staff report, the formers seniors residence will be used for both supportive and mixed affordable/attainable housing.

One deputation opposing the development was presented to council by Sheila Moir-Martin, who lives 600 metres from Meadow Park.

“Just because it’s easy doesn’t make it right,” Moir-Martin told council, pointing out the development is only 500 metres from both Ursuline College Chatham and the Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre.

She also raised concerns that the project would be run by Christian charity Indwell.

“Indwell does not always have the best reputation for providing safe, supportive housing,” Moir-Martin said, as she listed a number of crimes that have occurred at Indwell projects in Ontario.

“This is mainly due to the number of drug addicts living at Indwell,” she added.

However, the non-profit agency is known throughout the province for its comprehensive approach to supportive housing. Currently, Indwell is being actively courted by other municipalities – including Sarnia-Lambton – to come in and partner on supportive housing projects.

In his comments, South Kent Coun. Ryan Doyle said that while he supports supportive housing, he was not in favour of doing it at Meadow Park, stating that putting it close to a school and the women’s shelter is “not a great idea.”

In supporting the Meadow Park proposal, Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor said there’s a need to address homelessness and housing affordability in Chatham-Kent.

“I think we need to pay close attention to the assumptions we make of the people that live in any type of housing,” McGregor said. ‘It’s important to remember housing is a human right. We can’t define where people should live and we have a responsibility as a community to look out for the most vulnerable.”

Meadow Park was purchased by the municipality in 2024 as part of the municipality’s strategy to increase C-K’s housing supply. Staff have been working on developing supportive and affordable/attainable housing across Chatham-Kent with a focus on municipally owned properties.

Supportive housing can include offering specialized wrap-around services to individuals, the report said.

Other housing projects were also on the agenda.

A zoning amendment to allow a five-storey apartment complex at 85 Taylor Ave. to proceed was approved by council.

According to a staff report, the amendment was needed to accommodate the extra height up from the current zoning regulation that only allows for three storeys.

A handful of local citizens from the Chatham neighbourhood made deputations to council, voicing concerns the five-storey build would create a lack of privacy, compromising the ability of nearby residents to enjoy their pools and yards.

However, planner Robert Brown, representing owners Richard and Nicole Faubert, said the building is oriented east to west with no balconies and there are no windows facing north and south.

Brown said the design utilizes the property’s mature trees to help with privacy, adding the build will feature small units at market rent.

The proposal on the 1.4-acre property will see the demolition of a house followed by the construction of a 70-unit building, a storage building and parking.

Council also approved a request for proposal for a feasibility study and design of a supportive/mixed affordable housing complex at 416-421 Park St. E. in Chatham.

According to a staff report from Ray Harper, Chatham-Kent’s housing development director, the vacant property adjacent to Pet and Wildlife Rescue is “ideal” for both affordable and supportive housing builds.

Harper said two separate buildings are being considered for the site to deliver 80 mixed affordable/attainable units and 50 supportive housing units.

Currently, he said, administration is working to resolve environmental issues with the property to enable residential development.

A $5.7-million contract to build 11 affordable townhouses for families on Redwood Crescent and Eugenie Street in Chatham was approved by council.

The build will be able to house families as it will offer three- and four-bedroom units, with six townhouses located on Redwood and five on Eugenie.

Leamington based Barrineti Construction was selected for the project.

Harper said construction should begin in four to six weeks.