Developers pay part of Fairview methadone buyout

At least some of the money in a deal that allowed the Halifax community of Fairview to buy out a methadone clinic with a huge cash donation came from some of the wealthiest citizens in the city.

Wadih Fares, the president of of W.M. Fares Group — the owner of the luxury condo development St. Lawrence Place rising quickly on Dutch Village Road — said he gave money to fund the community's purchase of a house that was set to become a methadone clinic.

He said contributed to the $100,000 fund to buy the mobile methadone clinic, one of the conditions of the $520,000 deal to stop the methadone clinic from opening a permanent facility in the area. Fares would not say how much of the $100,000 he donated.

"I said, 'Look, I'm willing to help, if that's what the neighbourhood wants.' We are part of the neighbourhood. We are building St. Lawrence Place," he said  

Fares said he doesn't think a methadone clinic would have affected his investment, but said he believes the mobile clinic is a better solution.

Another developer hopes to break ground next year, even closer to the disputed house.  

Navid Saberi, president of United Gulf Developments Ltd., also contributed but said he doesn't believe a methadone clinic in the area would hurt his business.

"The misconception for people is that it will have a negative effect," he said.

"Personally I feel that the people who are going to these methadone clinics are the people who are trying to get rid of their addiction."

Saberi would not say exactly how much he contributed to the campaign either, but said they were asked to contribute only toward the $100,000 for the mobile clinic.

No one is saying yet who bought the building that was to become a clinic or what will happen to it.