City officials have started the zoning process to zone the Third Street parking lot as a residential seniors home.
The City is ploughing ahead with plans to convert a New Toronto parking lot into a shelter for unhoused seniors.
The property at 66 Third Street is one of six across the City in which zoning by-law amendments are being sought to build the residential shelters.
A motion to proceed with the zone changes will be considered by a Planning and Housing Committee and then by City Council at its July 23 to 23 meeting.
The amendment will apply for the construction of a four-storey residential building at the Green P lot on Third Street.
The City plans to add add 420 beds with the upcoming six shelters to be built in about three years.
The facility when completed will accommodate 50 unhoused seniors chosen at random, who are over the age of 55.
A City report said the shelters will provide 420 beds in total and are being designed for use as supportive or affordable housing in the future if the need arises.
City council is seeking to add 1,600 log-term and permanent shelter spaces to the system by 2033 for the homeless, according to the report.
“This plan focuses on developing purpose-built shelters, increasing permanency across the shelter system, and a gradual transition out of temporary shelter hotels in response to the growing need,” according to the report .
The City say they hope to create 1,600 long-term and permanent shelters by 2033.
It said the purpose-built shelters will save the City money, improve the stability of the system and respond to the growing need for emergency shelter and wrap around services.
There was a great anxiety and uproar in the community after the City at first said the shelter was for the homeless.
City officials changed their mind to make it a seniors-only facility due to a fiery debate in the community.
The shelters are part of a Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy approved by the City that is estimated to cost $674.5 million over the ten-year period from 2024 to 2033.