Paramedic station, affordable housing proposed at former Kinsmen Children's Centre

A paramedicdeployment station and affordable housing are some of the proposed conversionsof the former Kinsmen Children's Centre in Cambridge.

The centre at651 Concession Road, is on a regional road and connected to transit. The site is also beside Coronation Public School.

The site was originally built in 2004 by the region and operated as a child care centre until it closed inSeptember 2021. Since then, the site has been used as a COVID-19 isolation centre for people experiencing homelessness.

The proposal for the conversion received support from Cambridge Coun. Pam Wolf and Mayor Jan Liggett.

"I strongly support this. In Cambridge we're looking for all those needs to be met and this will be a very exciting project in an excellent location," Wolfsaid.

Regional staff said there's also the potential forother social service to be offered at the building.Coun. Rob Deutschmannsaid he would like staff to considerthe possibility of adding supportive housing to the site.

Supportive housing in the region providesshelter and onsite supports to people with a history of homelessness in an effort to help them keep their housing.

Liggett, however,said she wouldn't want"people withhigh acuity needs of mental health or addiction" living in the building, citing concernthat the site is beside an elementary school.

"No. I just wouldn't support that," she told CBC News.

"I don't think anybody at the region would want to be putting something next to the school that wouldn't work with the neighbourhood."

Liggett expressed support to the possibility of having seniors or achild care centre be part of the site to give parents more flexibility.

Regional councillors voted in favour of the proposal and directed staff to come back to council with a more detailed plan in early 2024.