Business owners in Toronto's Chinatown held a news conference Wednesday to clarify their position on a new street youth centre: they support the organization, just don't agree with the location.
Representatives of the Chinatown Business Improvement Area (BIA) met with media and community members to voice their concerns about a plan to open a street youth centre in the neighbourhood.
A building at 365 Spadina Ave., near Baldwin Street, will become the new home of the Evergreen Centre for Street Youth, operated by the Yonge Street Mission. The YSM hopes the centre will be opened by the end of 2017.
"YSM provides important services for a vulnerable population of young people," Coun. Joe Cressy told CTV Toronto in a statement on Wednesday.
Cressy, who represents Ward 20 Trinity-Spadina, said the new facility will provide health, employment and drop-in programs, while working with businesses and residents to ensure the operation's success.
Though the building's sale has been finalized, members of the BIA are voicing their frustration with the new plans for the property.
Tonny Louie, former chair of the Chinatown BIA, said the organization applauds YSM for the work they've done.
"However, Chinatown is not the place to do it," Louie said at a news conference.
Louie said business owners are irked by the fact that information about the sale was not made public until the decision was made.
"The property was bought long before it was consulted with the Chinese community," he said.
He said he asked why the YSM had chosen Spadina, saying the avenue is a designated tourist area.
"They're not even coming from Spadina Avenue," he said, referring to homeless youth that may make use of the shelter.
"What makes us so special that we need more grit? We don't need any more grit on Spadina Avenue. We have our problems already."
Louie said the BIA had worked hard for a decade to "clean up" the area, and business owners are worried the facility will turn Spadina into a "centre of homelessness."
In response, the YSM told CTV Toronto it did considerable research before choosing a location.
"Our youth preferred us to shift to a spot further west, such as Spadina Avenue. Other service providers in the area have welcomed us, confirming that our services are needed," the mission said in a statement.
A representative for the mission said the group has had three formal meetings and several informal meetings with the BIA.
"We have also spoken with more than 155 businesses in Chinatown," the statement said.
There will be ongoing consultations, and two community events hosted by Cressy in January, it said.
"YSM looks forward to continuing to meet with all stakeholders, including the Chinatown BIA, as we prepare to serve at our new site."
The YSM said hotlines have been set up for those with questions or comments about the project. Anyone wishing to know more can call 416-355-3570 or email spadinayouthcentre@ysm.ca.
