The Star with a two-part piece today on this trouble complex and the stalled efforts to revitalize or rebuild it.
Part 1:
Dan Harrison has a disproportionate number of tenants battling mental health issues, addiction, isolation, and other challenges amid its disrepair.
www.thestar.com
Part 2:
City officials have been warned of the Moss Park complex's deteriorating state for more than 30 years. So why has little been done?
www.thestar.com
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The long and short is that there are 3 interwoven issues that are site specific. The first is the physical conditions of the building and its units which could be charitably described as poor The second is that the complex is 100% rent-geared-to-income including some shelter/rooming house style accommodation. Finally, in addition to the preceding TCHC admits it has been purposefully putting ultra-high needs people disproportionately into Dan Harrison due to higher than average vacancies there (though, lets be honest, fewer politically connected, motivated objectors is part of that too)
A rebuild of the complex, is certainly needed to address repairs/deficiencies, and to address some long standing security challenges as well. But a brand new building w/the same tenant mix will soon find itself back where it started.
What's needed here is 3 or more new TCHC buildings off-site, that will be mixed income, where tenants here can be shifted during redevelopment, but with the new buildings having a different 'culture' from day one.
Moss Park has room for one new building on site on its current parking, and that could be one place to start.
When this community is rebuilt though, it can't be a warehouse for the very poor. The reality is placing people suffering from addiction, mental illness and desperation all together doesn't provide community and mutual support, it provides nearly impossible to overcome challenges, and a community that's almost completely disempowered.
The heritage houses here should be completely renovated and restored and either be luxury housing, or retail such as restaurants.
The midrise main housing buildings need to be reconstructed with a new tenant mix that is something like 50% market-rent, 25% affordable rent and 25% RGI.
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There are, of course, broader social issues that go beyond this one site; most obviously adequate support for those needing help w/addiction and mental illness, higher minimum wage, higher social assistance, and less clawback of employment income for those on the latter.
