The proponents behind Building Hope, a multi-million-dollar project that envisions building a new homeless shelter, supportive housing and affordable housing on a Queen Street property, asked the city Monday night to forgive their $390,000 loan, to defer development fees for the project and exempt the facility from property taxes.
After making an impassioned plea for support as part of a delegation to council, it was nearly three hours before council debated the issue. Rather than vote on the request, council opted to defer a decision, voting instead to ask city staff to prepare a report that would help them make their decision.
Coun. Ted Emond led the charge to defer the decision while a report is completed. That report from city staff will look at the financial impact of the decision - he said if council agreed to all the requests it would translate into a 1% tax increase - but also other factors, such as the precedent it would set if other similar agencies approached council for support. Emond also asked staff to look into what potential impact the new facility might have on the bed crunch at Orillia's Soldiers' Memorial Hospital.
A report is expected to come to council at its Feb. 26 meeting.
Check back here Monday for more on this story.
