Neighbours react to planned northeast Regina housing project

Some people who live close to the site of a planned new housing project in northeast Regina aren’t happy about the move.

The new housing unit is planned to give people working their way out of homelessness a place to stay.

The city’s executive committee backed the plans in a sometimes tense, seven-hour-long meeting Wednesday. The plan is to build the home at 120 Broad St., very close to Imperial Community School.

980 CJME spoke Thursday with some people who live in the area. Of the three who wanted to go on record, one thing was unanimous: The city could have done a much better job of communicating the plan with people in the neighbourhood.

Kelvin Heinrichs lives nearby.

“My neighbour, like 100 metres from my house, she had no idea about it until I told her about it,” he said. “I sent her all of the information and the first thing she said is, ‘That’s not a good idea, to have it right beside the school.’ And some other people said, ‘Well, our housing values are going to be going down now because of it.’ ”

One woman who didn’t want to share her name agreed there should have been more outreach from the city.

“I think the city actually failed the community,” she said. “They should have brought (more) invitations into a meeting to let us know exactly what was happening …

“For not actually getting the community involved, to understand more what was going on, it’s a big fail on them.”

Another woman who didn’t want her name used isn’t against the idea of the project.

“Yeah, it’s needed. The city needs it, I’m totally behind that. I was just concerned (with) the level of information that was released and when it was released because it was a surprise to me,” she said.

She believes the city should have been more proactive in talking about what type of programs will go on in the new project.

Heinrichs said he understands the need for a place like this, but he thinks it just isn’t the right spot.

“Kids walk by that place every day to go to school, like Grade 7 (or) Grade 6. We want things to be safe for our kids. I think (the city) could have put it in a better spot,” he said.

The city will attempt to make quick work of the project. It hopes to have the new facility built and housing people by the end of 2022.