There's been an about-face on a big plan for a church in downtown Barrie.
Central United was being looked at to house a number of services for people in need, but the plan has been put on hold – at least for the time-being.
Evelyn Bullock is breathing a sigh of relief that the David Busby Street Centre won’t be moving into the neighbourhood.
“I don’t want it here in a residential neighbourhood,” she says. “I have grandchildren that will be walking by it in September to go to school. People will be hanging around.”
The Busby Centre must move out of its current location at Trinity Anglican Church in downtown Barrie by the end of next month.
Barrie Pathways, an umbrella organization of 23 agencies including the Busby Centre was hoping to move into Central United Church, but a city by-law forced the group to pull out.
“Crisis care facilities and group homes can't be within 300 metres of each other so we would have to seek a variance and that would take some time and we don't have time,” says Busby executive director Sara Peddle.
Barrie Coun. Lynn Strachan represents the ward and also works for the Busby Centre.
“You always hear opposition, there's always opposition to any sort of change,” she says.
It's a difficult situation for Strachan. She represents people who want the centre in the downtown and those who don't. She says the church option is out for now, but that could change.
“The church location is being pursued as part of a long-term solution for Barrie Pathways and homelessness it is one of the top three sites that are under consideration for this initiative,” she says.
Peddle says they will now focus on a short-term plan but says regardless of where they end up they want to make sure they are welcome.
“We want to work with the community, we want to become part of whatever neighborhood we adopted so we are listening to the concerns, we are hearing them, and trying to make sure as we move forward but those concerns are addressed,” Peddle says.
