Regina to purchase Eagles Club building as site of permanent shelter
After 9-2 vote, City of Regina set to purchase and renovate building for $5.6M
The City of Regina will soon purchase a building in the city's Heritage neighbourhood and renovate it to function as a permanent emergency shelter.
In a vote of 9 to 2, Regina city council approved the purchase of the Eagles Club building at 1600 Halifax St., just east of the downtown.
Ward 7 Coun. Terina Nelson and Ward 10 Coun. Landon Mohl were the only votes against.
Years of debate about helping homeless
The decision caps off a three-year-long search for a permanent emergency shelter. Ward 6 Coun. Dan LeBlanc says homelessness has provided context and framed nearly every debate in this council's four year term.
"It is the undertone, the baseline of the entire council term," said LeBlanc.
"I think the cruel irony of it is...we're not doing anything. We're not making it better. We're just not making it worse."
The permanent shelter will not increase the number of shelter beds in Regina, instead it will function as a replacement for a 55 bed shelter at the Nest Health Centre. The lease on that property is set to expire in fall 2025 and the City of Regina will attempt to get the replacement shelter online by then.
We're not making it better. We're just not making it worse.- Coun. Daniel LeBlanc
Purchasing the Eagles Club building, which is in an industrial area east of downtown and south of the rail lines, will cost $2.6 million. A further $3 million will be spent to renovate the property.
The federal government has provided $3 million for the project, with another $3 million to come from the provincial government in the form of a loan that is forgivable after 10 years. That would mean no additional contributions from the City of Regina.
The purchase was opposed by businesses surrounding the property, who voiced concern about a potential increase in crime and vandalism as well as a perceived drop in property values caused by the shelter.
Local businesses to be consulted
Mayor Sandra Masters attempted to mollify those concerns in an amendment which directs city staff to meet with businesses within 250 metres of the shelter about developing a "neighbourhood maintenance compensation program."
The proposed program would provide businesses with compensation for expenses incurred as a result of the shelter. That would include things like additional lighting, cleaning, graffiti removal, private security, security cameras, increases to insurance premiums, decline in property values and decline in revenue.
WATCH| Proposed shelter in Regina receives backlash
Daniel Turgeon, owner of Town and Country Plumbing, Heating and Electricity, urged council to push a decision on purchasing the property until after the upcoming municipal election set for November.
Other business owners voiced frustration that they had only found out about the potential shelter days before it was first discussed by councillors. They asked for more time to be consulted.
"I see [this shelter] being done with more conversation than what we can possibly fit into today's council meeting," said Turgeon.
Pushback and emotional debate
Homeless advocates pushed back on any delay and at times the debate became heated and emotional.
"I like actually would beg you to pass this and I do not want to see it deferred to another city council meeting. I don't want to see it go to the next people that are elected next time. Like this is your responsibility to deal with right now," said advocate Rebecca Granovsky-Larsen.
Seventeen delegates were registered to speak on Wednesday with five other communications filed with the city council.
The common ground among many was that the shelter was necessary. The split was about the appropriateness of the location in the Heritage neighbourhood.
The state of this neighborhood is deteriorating and now we're adding one more piece to this mix.- Judith Veresuk, Regina Downtown Business Improvement District
When addressing council, Judith Veresuk with the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District, paraphrased complaints she'd heard from community members.
"The state of this neighborhood is deteriorating and now we're adding one more piece to this mix. The road to revitalization of this neighborhood is made that much more difficult without additional support and resources," said Veresuk.
Other advocates slammed the approach from businesses.
That included community activist Shawn Koch.
"To the business owners and the property owners of Regina, I ask you this: Is your business or your property worth a human life? If the answer is yes, how many? A dozen, 50? A hundred? What is it?" Koch asked.
Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services (RT/SIS) will operate the shelter when it comes online. Part of the motion will allow the City of Regina to transfer ownership of the building to RT/SIS if council believes it to be beneficial.
LISTEN| Regina's mayor explains why she voted against a permanent shelter on Albert St.
RT/SIS already operates the shelter at the Nest Health Centre and the organization's community director stressed how they have been able to find success at that location.
Is your business or your property worth a human life?- Community activist Shawn Koch
"I think that is a bit of the misconception that I would really like us to take a look at is [the shelter] is not a revolving door, it is creating spaces for people to make necessary and important changes," said Natasha Kennedy.
Although the purchase was cleared by council, a necessary bylaw, allowing them to borrow money to renovate the property, must still be passed at the next meeting of council.
In order to receive a third reading of a bylaw on the same day it's introduced unanimous support by council is required.
Coun. Nelson repeatedly voiced opposition to the shelter during the meeting and she was the only councillor who opposed the required unanimous vote.
Saskatoon also approves shelter
The same day Regina City Council gave the green light to the Halifax Street purchase, Saskatoon's council was also approving a downtown emergency shelter.
Council voted 7-4 in favour of the shelter, to be located at 210 Pacific Ave. It is planned to have 30 to 40 beds and offer 24-hour access and three meals a day to clients, along with support for addictions, mental health and wellness, and services to help them transition to long-term housing.
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