The partners behind a plan to establish a housing and social services hub in Hintonburg have signed a conditional deal* to purchase two parcels of land at the corner of Bayview Avenue and Wellington Street West. The partners had previously explored purchasing the nearby Bethany Hope Centre but were unable to secure grants to cover the $3–4 million price tag.
The new location is the site of the Pantuso garage at 927 Wellington St. W., as well as an adjacent lot.
“We’re very excited. The vision of the Hintonburg Hub is very much alive and well, and hopefully in 2012 we can make something happen,” says Jack McCarthy, executive director of the Somerset West Community Health Centre.
The other organizations behind the Hub proposal include Family Services Ottawa, Citizen Advocacy and Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation.
CCOC, a non-profit housing provider, located the property and negotiated the real estate deal. McCarthy says he learned about the property in late November or early December.
“We’re thrilled that the efforts of our partners are coming to fruition here but there are still many, many details to work out,” McCarthy says.
He wouldn’t confirm the price the hub partners have agreed to pay for the property, but does say it is “less” than what they had expected to pay for the Bethany Hope Centre.
“I don’t put a figure out in the public domain, because it could change and shift,” McCarthy says.
CCOC has placed a conditional offer on the two properties and the offers have been accepted.
Kitchissippi councillor Katherine Hobbs says she’s pleased the new location is much closer to a major public transit hub like the Bayview Station.
“I think it’s in a much better location, close to major transportation,” she says.
Hobbs said she will be meeting with the hub partners next week to discuss next steps and she may have more to say about the news after that meeting.
*CORRECTION, 6 January 2012: We originally reported that the partners behind the Hintonburg Hub had completed the purchase of the land at 927 Wellington St. W, as well as an adjacent lot. That information was incorrect. We've also corrected the headline. OpenFile regrets the error.
