‘Cities die from the core out,’ writes developer concerned with safety in downtown Saskatoon to city council

A letter written by a well known Saskatoon developer in early May calls for urgent civic action to save the city’s downtown area.

Ken Achs cites four main issues in the downtown area that are affecting businesses.

His letter, dated May 1, was presented to the city’s governance and priorities committee at its meeting Monday afternoon (June 22).

The letter includes information from an email chain between his company, Mid-West Development Corp. and a tenant, that wants to leave the downtown, citing safety concerns, a negative public view and an all-time high vacancy rate.

To try to keep the tenant from leaving, Achs’ company offered three months rent relief and tied it to a lease extension.

Achs cites the location of the bus mall, the social services building, the general perception that the downtown is not safe, and the location of The Lighthouse as the major issues that negatively impact the area.

Councillor Darren Hill says while he’s supported the Lighthouse in the past with clothing and fundraising efforts, he said in some other cities the types of services offered there are more dispersed.

“It’s the concentration of services and programs in that one location that was my concern. And that particular components of the operation should be relocated. Not the entire Lighthouse facility. And that position I believe, is supported by leaders of the Lighthouse and other community groups as well.”

Lighthouse spokesperson Anna Pacik says they try to be good neighbors and to address concerns local businesses may have. However, homelessness and addiction is on the rise in Saskatoon and it will take a community effort to solve the issue.

“We really need our community to get around us to help us to figure this issue out. It seems to be coming to a head. I think that COVID has really exposed some of those frail funding structures for those folks.”

If staff there really could have a solution, it would be to work to end homelessness and to fund addictions and mental health like “any other healthcare need.”

As for the idea of moving or relocating some of their services, Pacik says it’s possible but would require a lot of funding commitment.

“The Lighthouse is always looking for better ways to serve our vulnerable population. If that would mean moving some of our programs, we are always open to new ideas that would take care of our folks the best.”

The letter was received as information by the governance and priorities committee and will also be forwarded to the Board of Police Commissioners and the Safe Communities Action Alliance for further discussion and potential direction.

The mayor weighs in

Mayor Charlie Clark says solving the safety issue downtown won’t be done with more police officers.

Clark told guest host Gerald Bauman Tuesday, a new approach is needed with the provincial government to support people with mental health issues and break the cycle of addictions.

Clark said while safety in the core has been a concern for years, he’s encouraged by what he is seeing.

“This is actually an opportunity I see. We have different parts of the community coming together saying, ‘let’s find a different way to deal with the homeless, let’s find a different way to deal with mental health and addictions .’”

Clark said there are no plans to move the Lighthouse out of downtown, however, he noted discussions are on-going to “de-concentrate ” the shelter from its current location.

“We have too many services being provided in one place and its affecting the ability for people who are living there to live there safely, and it’s also affecting the surrounding neighbourhoods.”

“Figuring out where to move some of those activities is not simple. We need to make sure there’s a model and funding in place to do it effectively.”

Clark said he will be engaged in the next days and weeks on this issue with the Lighthouse, business owners and the provincial government.