THUNDER BAY -- City council is looking to help a woman's five-unit apartment building stay that way.
Denise Parr bought 218 Powley Street six years ago. Although it's listed as a singe dwelling, the building has housed five apartments since at least 1985.
Administration recommended city council vote to reduce that number to three to conform to planning bylaw but Parr said that would put tenants out on the street, reduce her income and force her to pay astronomical amounts of money in order to renovate.
But a report also cited numerous complaints about noise, loitering garbage. During the planning meeting though there was only one objector who said his only concern was the laneway he shares with the building.
Supporter Sid Bennett, who's lived in the areas for more than 50 years, said the Parrs have done everything they can to help out and clean up the neighbourhood.
Three or the tenants are also supported through the Thunder Bay and District Social Services Administration Board. It's part of the reason city council referred the matter back to administration to see if there's a way for Parr to keep the building at five units.
"We all know we’re facing a shortage of housing in this area and throughout the city so this is something that we’re looking for. It already exists,” Coun. Paul Pugh said.
Mayor Keith Hobbs wanted to know how many other places like Parr's are in the city. Development services manager Mark Smith said his department is complaint driven and even keeping on top of those is a strain with the resources at its disposal.
"We would have no idea as to how many illegal units there are in the city,” Smith said.
The matter is coming back to council at an undetermined date.
