[Halifax] The Craigmore | 46 m | 16 fl | Complete

[sdm]

Project planned for Armdale miffs residents
Condo tower, addiction centre in works
By CLARE MELLOR Staff Reporter
Fri. May 14 - 4:54 AM

Residents of a Halifax neighbourhood near the Armdale Rotary are upset that their area will soon be home to an addiction treatment centre for teenagers and a new 16-storey condominium building.

"(There is) a lot of strong emotion in the neighbourhood," resident Brian Adams said Wednesday.

The former Halifax County building on the corner of Joseph Howe Drive and Craigmore Drive is being leased to the IWK Health Centre for its in-patient and outpatient addiction program for teenagers and its mental health assessment program for teens involved with the youth justice system.

"It doesn’t seem like a proper fit" for the neighbourhood, said Adams, a member of the Rockwood Community Association.

"(As) a special-care home, it is supposed to be voluntary, not a jail, not a hospital, yet they are going to have 24-7 security."

Information technology company CGI most recently occupied the building.

Area residents are also troubled that the new owner, Banc Properties, plans to build a condo tower in the parking lot behind the former county building. An underground pedway will connect the two.

Banc Properties hosted a community meeting Monday to tell residents about its plans. As many as 100 people attended.

"This is not something where we are coming out of the woods and (saying), ‘Not in my backyard,’ " Adams said.

He said residents expressed concern to the municipality as long as 15 years ago about potential development on the property.

"They are going to dig 50 feet straight down for underground parking and then they are going to go up 155 feet," he said. "It will be 10 metres taller than the Manulife building" across the street.

Banc Properties has already received a development permit from Halifax Regional Municipality.

"The land is zoned C-1 in the Halifax Mainland land-use bylaw and that zone permits R-4, which is high-density residential uses," municipal development officer Andrew Faulkner said.

Because the new and old buildings will be connected, they will be considered a single structure under the building code.

Alex Halef, one of the principals of family-owned Banc Properties, said Thursday that construction on the 77-unit condo building is estimated to cost $14 million and could start as early as this summer.

The company bought the property from Manulife in February.

"We do care about (the residents), but as much as we do, at the same time . . . it is still a business at the end of the day, and we can’t not do something that is part of our business just because some people don’t like it," Halef said.

"We are going to absolutely do our best to make (the building) pleasing to us and hopefully pleasing to the neighbourhood."

About a decade ago, Maritime Life, a previous owner of the property, tried unsuccessfully to have the zoning changed to C-2 from C-1 to allow for industrial and commercial uses. Area residents fought the C-2 proposal but were unaware that even the long-standing C-1 designation could allow for a tall residential tower and an addiction centre, Adams said in an interview.

Coun. Linda Mosher (Purcells Cove-Armdale) said she has received numerous complaints about the condo tower and the treatment centre but that her hands are tied because of the C-1 zoning.

"Legally, I can’t interfere," she said.

Halef said Banc Properties is comfortable with its decision to lease the existing building to the IWK.

"These are children. They do have families. They are coming voluntarily to seek that help. They have a right to seek that help and I don’t feel like they should be segregated," he said.

"In light of that, my father is going to move into the penthouse of the new building. Our intention is to move our offices over into the new building."

IWK Health Centre spokeswoman Kathryn London-Penny said operations will begin in the old county building in late June or early July.

"We are doing some improvements" to the building first, she said.

The addiction treatment program for teenagers is voluntary and will include 14 in-patient beds and an outpatient component. The mental health assessment program for teens involved with the youth justice system is not voluntary but patients don’t stay overnight, she said.

The IWK is hosting a meeting for community residents at 6:30 p.m. Monday at St. James Anglican Church at 2668 Joseph Howe Dr.

( [email protected])

[DigitalNinja]

I don't see what the big deal is about the addiction center. Of course it's going to have security. You don't want people on your door step tripping out. It's not like the only people addicted to drugs are the poor ones. I'm sure there is some in every area of a city. I think this will look good when it is done. A Summer start would be awesome!

[halifaxboyns]

Addiction centres in residential neighbourhoods never go over well. There was a methadone clinic going into a community that was both and industrial and residential and they appealed it immediately - the poor clinic got bounced around the City of Calgary like rag-doll. They finally found an industrial area that they could move into where they wouldn't disturb anyone, but it was quite sad.

[beyeas]

I thought that there was one comment on the CH site that was particularly good, as it pointed out that kids with addictions live in every neighbourhood, not just poor ones, so we shouldn't be demonizing them. 3 streets away from me is a basically half-way house for teens with psych problems who have gotten into problems. I have never heard of any major issues surrounding it in terms of how this interacts with he rest of the neighbourhood.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by sdm

"They are going to dig 50 feet straight down for underground parking and then they are going to go up 155 feet," he said. "It will be 10 metres taller than the Manulife building" across the street.

Banc Properties has already received a development permit from Halifax Regional Municipality.

Alex Halef, one of the principals of family-owned Banc Properties, said Thursday that construction on the 77-unit condo building is estimated to cost $14 million and could start as early as this summer.

"We do care about (the residents), but as much as we do, at the same time . . . it is still a business at the end of the day, and we can’t not do something that is part of our business just because some people don’t like it," Halef said.

"We are going to absolutely do our best to make (the building) pleasing to us and hopefully pleasing to the neighbourhood."

Coun. Linda Mosher (Purcells Cove-Armdale) said she has received numerous complaints about the condo tower and the treatment centre but that her hands are tied because of the C-1 zoning.

"Legally, I can’t interfere," she said.

See above smilies for my opinions.

[ZET]

Originally Posted by beyeas

I thought that there was one comment on the CH site that was particularly good, as it pointed out that kids with addictions live in every neighbourhood, not just poor ones, so we shouldn't be demonizing them. 3 streets away from me is a basically half-way house for teens with psych problems who have gotten into problems. I have never heard of any major issues surrounding it in terms of how this interacts with he rest of the neighbourhood.

Well said. It's good to see them finally settling in a good building in a good location. For 10-15 years they've moved from one condemned building to another. Most of these facilities are very well run and make good neighbors.

[worldlyhaligonian]

any renderings anywhere yet? soo pumped to see them

[sdm]

Neighbourhood says no to addiction centre
Proposal greeted with heated criticism
By EVA HOARE Staff Reporter
Tue. May 18 - 4:53 AM
Residents of a Halifax neighbourhood say their area is under attack and they won’t stop fighting the planned arrival this summer of an addiction treatment centre for teenagers.

At an information meeting Monday, resident after resident directed sometimes fiery comments at Anne McGuire, president of the IWK Health Centre, which would operate the facility.

"We don’t want you here at all," Craig Chisholm told McGuire and her IWK colleagues assembled at the St. James Anglican Church hall near the Armdale Rotary.

"You’ll destroy the neighbourhood if you start expanding."

Chisholm expressed concern that the 14-bed facility the IWK intends to house in the former Halifax County building at Joseph Howe Drive and Craigmore Drive would grow well beyond the original blueprints.

The building was most recently leased to technology firm CGI but new owner Banc Properties plans to rent two floors to the IWK for two programs. One would offer counselling, schooling and other services to teenagers with substance abuse problems while the other would provide court-ordered mental assessments to young people in trouble with the law. Operations are to begin in late June or early July.

McGuire said the IWK has no intention of enlarging the programs because there is neither room at the site nor money in the budget.

Residents challenged her to guarantee the neighbourhood would not become the scene of crimes committed by patients who could leave the facility voluntarily, held up only by a 15-second delay mechanism on the door.

"They’re junkies," Chisholm said to McGuire. "There’s going to be drug dealers brought into our neighbourhood with our children around."

McGuire and Dr. Herb Orlik, a psychiatrist who works with teenagers, said if patients left the building, the last thing they would do is stay in the neighbourhood.

"I work face to face with these children," Orlik said. "If they leave, they have no reason to hang around the program."

McGuire told the crowd of about 100 that she hoped the centre would be "invisible" and residents would ultimately embrace it. Some people jeered her remarks.

Residents repeatedly took the microphone to demand more details about the controls the staff of 60 would have over the teenagers.

"We have very vigorous policies and procedures," McGuire said. "It’s not just hit and miss."

She emphasized that the teens who would be living at the centre or visiting on an outpatient basis come from all walks of life and need to be in a place of healing and not an institution. Many "self-harm," she said, and are reclusive.

But residents wanted to know whether some would be arriving from court in shackles. After the point was brought up several times, McGuire ultimately said she couldn’t guarantee such an event would never happen but that it would be highly unlikely.

Teens arriving at the centre would not be the type who would need "unusual security," she said, adding that no dangerous 🞵🞵🞵 offenders would be on the premises.

Residents were incredulous that they had never been consulted about the plans for the centre. McGuire admitted that there had been no discussions with area residents.

"My big worry was that no one would ever have us," she told the crowd.

She acknowledged that the neighbourhood differs from other areas where such facilities are located because it has mostly single-family homes.

Chisholm said McGuire’s presentation was just a "lot of spin."

"Yes, it was completely done under the table, quietly . . . because they knew they would get this type of opposition, obviously."

John Langley, president of the Rockwood Community Association, said the area was "under attack" and the project was "foisted" upon residents with no consultation.

"We have to keep at it," he said. "We’re not going away."

Residents said they were worried about their property values declining and suggested the centre might be more suitably placed in a less residential area such as Bayers Lake Park.

At the end of the two-hour meeting, McGuire said she’d be happy to meet with a small group from the Rockwood association to assuage their fears of young criminals walking the streets of the neighbourhood.

And in another matter, the parking lot behind the centre is to be the site of a new 16-storey, 77-unit condominium building that would be connected to the centre by an underground pedway. The development’s price tag is said to be about $14 million.

Residents have long opposed highrises in their neighbourhood and previously fought Maritime Life, a former owner of the county building. Maritime Life tried unsuccessfully to have the zoning changed to permit industrial and commercial uses.

But the current C-1 zoning already allows for the condo tower and the addiction treatment centre.

Banc Properties bought the site from Manulife in February and the city has already approved its development permit.

( [email protected])

‘We don’t want you here at all. You’ll destroy the neighbourhood if you start expanding.’

Opposes proposal

CRAIG CHISHOLM

[Jonovision]

People make me very angry sometimes. These kids need help.

[phrenic]

CBC interviewed the fellow quoted in the article and played it on information morning today on my way to work. He identified himself as an "arch conservative" who "hates these pseudo-liberal, hug-a-thug programs" and said that "all of these addicts should be ripped off the streets and thrown in jail." Essentially the kind of small-government, small-minded person who doesn't agree with any addiction or mental health treatment anywhere. I think I even heard "socialism" thrown into his rant somewhere. He sounded like Sarah Palin.

And yet the Herald quotes him as though he is just a normal concerned citizen worried for his neighborhood.

I wasn't at the meeting, but I'd be willing to bet that the majority of people in the neighborhood, when presented with factual information about the planned facility, wouldn't have any problem with it.

I for one would welcome this type of facility in my neighborhood.

[kph06]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

People make me very angry sometimes. These kids need help.

I was cringing when I read this article; by the way this Chisholm character is speaking you'd think it's the Burnside Jail renting the space. There are more places like this around like this than people know of. The reason why people don't know about them is because they rarely cause problems in the community. There were a few places for trouble teens or adults near where I grew up in the "south end" and not once in all my years did I hear of a problem from any of them. By the sounds of it the patients at this place will be the ones who know they have a problem and want help; therefore I can't see them causing problems for the community.

[Doggard]

"They’re junkies," Chisholm said to McGuire. "There’s going to be drug dealers brought into our neighbourhood with our children around."


It's pretty naive to think that there aren't already drug dealers in the neighbourhood...

I used to live near the drug addiction treatment centre on Barrington street. Those people weren't going there to cause trouble, they were going there to get help.

[JET]

Originally Posted by phrenic

CBC interviewed the fellow quoted in the article and played it on information morning today on my way to work. He identified himself as an "arch conservative" who "hates these pseudo-liberal, hug-a-thug programs" and said that "all of these addicts should be ripped off the streets and thrown in jail." Essentially the kind of small-government, small-minded person who doesn't agree with any addiction or mental health treatment anywhere. I think I even heard "socialism" thrown into his rant somewhere. He sounded like Sarah Palin.

And yet the Herald quotes him as though he is just a normal concerned citizen worried for his neighborhood.

I wasn't at the meeting, but I'd be willing to bet that the majority of people in the neighborhood, when presented with factual information about the planned facility, wouldn't have any problem with it.

I for one would welcome this type of facility in my neighborhood.

The comments on the article on the herald website are interesting. The majority of folks are supporting this facility including people who live in the area. Unfortunately the wingnuts who oppose it get all the press.

[Wishblade]

That Chisholm guy is sick. He doesnt seem to make the connection that without this facility, it actually means more drug addicted kids on the streets not less. Sounds like he and other residents need more help than the kids who will use this facility...

Thank god theres nothing they can do about it.

[someone123]

One problem is that there's a big tendency in the media to show "both sides of the issue" in the most trivial sense, which means finding the most extreme people on both sides rather than actually giving the reader a sense of perspective.

Any person who thinks of himself as an "arch conservative" has to be at least a bit of a jerk. It's almost comical.

[halifaxboyns]

I usually read the herald online (since I'm in Calgary) after i've picked up my coffee and done a couple hours work - I nearly choked when I read some of the comments online and in the article.

I can only imagine how this guy sounded on the radio, but as I pointed out in my comment on the herald website - sorry guys, this is a zoning system and it's coming whether you like it or not. You can rant, rave and complain - but this is an as of right development. While I didn't point this out in the article; the question of whether this development is appropriate has been asked and answered when the site was zoned: Council has said it's appropriate - get over it.

I'm not surprised by the reaction though because a lot of armdale residents had an issue with the condo building that went up along Springvale, when it was going through the Development Agreement process. It was not well liked at all - and of course when the DP went through; they were po'ed. I think I may have worked on it?

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by someone123

One problem is that there's a big tendency in the media to show "both sides of the issue" in the most trivial sense, which means finding the most extreme people on both sides rather than actually giving the reader a sense of perspective.

Any person who thinks of himself as an "arch conservative" has to be at least a bit of a jerk. It's almost comical.

We had people like that come out here in Calgary when the Second Chance methadone clinic was being pushed around the city; because various communities didn't want it.

The CBC covered it - I went to one of the meetings, even though I wasn't involved and didn't live in the community. I just went to listen and say my peace; was funny. When I asked the broad question of where should it go, if not here - wow...that was just crazy. I had people come up and yell at me for coming to the meeting; I was like - last I checked, charter of rights gives me the right to speak my mind and attend any meeting I want?

CBC news link

[phrenic]

Originally Posted by someone123

One problem is that there's a big tendency in the media to show "both sides of the issue" in the most trivial sense, which means finding the most extreme people on both sides rather than actually giving the reader a sense of perspective.

Any person who thinks of himself as an "arch conservative" has to be at least a bit of a jerk. It's almost comical.

Honestly, I nearly spit out my coffee when they played him on-air.

You're right though, in the interest of fairness media will go to great strides to tell both sides of a story. This is true on the local, national and even international levels. The problem with this approach to reporting is that while it always sounds great in principle to be "fair," the viewpoints expressed are often so extreme or completely ludicrous that they impact the quality of the larger debate at hand.

[Wishblade]

Originally Posted by phrenic

Honestly, I nearly spit out my coffee when they played him on-air.

You're right though, in the interest of fairness media will go to great strides to tell both sides of a story. This is true on the local, national and even international levels. The problem with this approach to reporting is that while it always sounds great in principle to be "fair," the viewpoints expressed are often so extreme or completely ludicrous that they impact the quality of the larger debate at hand.

Not to mention that people who are on the extremes of these issues are far more vocal than the public that lie between, and thus easier for the media to get the opinion of.

[musicman]

I am a member of the media. I know how hard it is sometimes to be fair to both sides of the story.. Most of the time you do get the extremes to talk that is all you can get to talk. The ho, hum people in the middle tend to not want to talk to reporters. It is unfortunate but true.. I have worked on a few stories involving this arm of the IWK and i have found that most of the kids involved are really great kids who got involved in something that they didn't understand. I would support them if they moved in my backyard..