[DC83]

Shelter project set to go
Good Shepherd has fall start date


The Hamilton Spectator
(Jul 17, 2008)

Good Shepherd Centres is planning a September groundbreaking for a long-delayed women's shelter and affordable housing complex.

Neighbourhood opponents to the project, on the vacant Loretto Academy site on King Street West between Ray and Pearl streets, were adamant that the project was out of scale for the neighbourhood.

There were many debates at city council, an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board and even a court injunction two years ago when the neighbours claimed the work on the 1.4-hectare property was not in keeping with the OMB decision. The injunction was overturned later that year.

Good Shepherd spokesperson Alan Whittle says all the city's requirements have now been met and all approvals are expected by September.

Plans call for three apartment buildings and a fourth building to replace both the Martha House shelter for abused women and the Mary's Place homeless shelter for women.

Whittle said all the components originally planned would be built despite construction cost increases.

The long-delayed project was valued at roughly $25 million in 2002, when the multi-part proposal was originally unveiled to the neighbourhood that reacted so negatively to it.