Souls Harbour looking to replace aging building

Souls Harbour Rescue Mission is looking for a new place to call home.

The organization will submit an application to amend an existing contract zone for a location on Angus Street in Regina's North Central neighbourhood at Monday's city council meeting.

The proposed amendment concerns a property which already has a two-storey, 30-unit building. A previous contract between the owner and the city permitted a new, 20-unit building to be constructed, but it was never developed and the site is no longer being proposed.

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Thecurrent location on Halifax Street is more than 100 years old. The building has had a major renovation before but maintenance costs are steadily rising. The proposal also said that Souls Harbour'sneeds have outgrown the building.

Souls Harbour serves and average of 200 meals per day and provides a place to stay for a minimum of 12 people in need each night. As it's often at capacity, people are forced to sleep elsewhere.

Souls Harbour is proposing an additional 16 units be added on the second and fourth levels. There would be a kitchen on the ground and third level, as well as a daycare on the third level.

The new location was proposed earlier this year.

Notices were sentto property owners in the surrounding area in June and July. A public open house was subsequently held on Aug. 30 and then a follow-up summary of the open house was sent out weeks later to those who were interestedin the development.

There was general support for the proposal but people expressed concern about those who would be using the facility congregating outside. Those concerns were addressed with "Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design" in mind, the proposal said.

It was added the congregation of people outside of the Halifax location hasn't been a problem in the past.

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