In two years, Michael Savard will no longer have a home at the Royal Edward Arms apartment.
Savard moved into the social housing apartment on May Street in 1997. He and the rest of the 63 tenants have until 2015 to find a new place to live as Thunder Bay Housing won’t be renewing the Royal Edward lease.
The Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board made the decision in March. The property and all the costs associated with renovations will then be taken over by the city.
None of the tenants will be evicted, but officials with DSSAB believe that the apartment will be empty by May 2015.
Savard said he wasn’t surprised to hear the news but wondered why DSSAB wanted to close what he considered a good quality place.
“I hope they find better housing for the people that are here,” he said. “I’ve been offered a beautiful place when I leave here. I’m very happy with how they’re treating us. We have no choice. We have to move out and that’s all there is to it.”
At-Large Coun. Iain Angus, who sits on the DSSAB board, voted against the recommendation primarily because he said the decision doesn’t help with those who are waiting for social housing.
More than 1,200 people are on the waiting list for social housing as of March 31.
Although Angus was confident that DSSAB would help the Royal Edward tenants find new homes, but he said that means that there will be less than 64 people who will receive social housing.
“Anything that we do as a DSSAB that doesn’t provide additional housing is working against them,” he said.
“We’re very concerned with a number of not-for-profit organizations who when the mortgages are up are free under current legislation to dispose of the buildings. The report, which was adopted by DSSAB, wants to find a way to keep those units in social housing.
“To get rid of the Royal Edward Arms flies in the face of that recommendation. It really is inconsistent with our overall plans for Thunder Bay and the region.”
Angus points out that in 2011 the long-term housing plan never mentioned closing the Royal Edward apartment building.
Instead, the idea was mentioned to convert a senior’s home into a residence for single adults under the age of 65.
He added he would prefer the building continue to be designated for social housing.
“The report didn’t speak of the reasons why,” he said referring to the reasons for DSSAB not renewing the lease.
“My frustration was no report came to the DSSAB boards that said ‘look we have a problem with the Royal Edward Arms and here’s a range of solutions and by the way we’re recommending that we just get rid of it’. We haven’t had that process and I think that’s wrong.”
McKellar Coun. Paul Pugh said the Royal Edward has had problems long before he joined council. Pugh argues the apartment building is plagued with problems including badly needing renovations.
He said the cost of those repairs, security issues and residents being unsatisfied were some of the main reasons why DSSAB decided not to renew the lease.
Pugh believes there’s lot of potential for the building but the topic still has to be discussed at council.
“Fortunately this isn’t going to happen overnight so there’s time for DSSAB to try to come up with some alternative housing,” he said. “The housing in this city is either public or private. I’m of a belief that there’s room for coop housing in order to deal with the housing shortage.”
The Royal Edward Arms, which was completed in 1929, is registered as a heritage site and thus difficult to demolish.
But Agnus said he wasn’t sure what they planned to do with the building and the matter will have to come before city council.
