Plan To Turn Fez Batik Lounge Into Shelter Met With Opposition
quote:
Plan To Turn Fez Batik Lounge Into Shelter Met With Opposition
Wednesday March 28, 2007
Residents and business owners in Toronto's entertainment district haven't always gotten along, but they appear to be united against a plan by the city to turn the space that used to house the Fez Batiz lounge into a homeless shelter.
A new downtown shelter is needed because one located on Edward St. closes at the end of April, to be replaced by affordable housing.
City officials suggest the Fez Batik space could be perfect, because it could hold 40 beds, has high ceilings and open spaces, and already contains a commercial-size kitchen.
The site, at the corner of Richmond and Peter Sts., is also close to transit and major thoroughfares.
But business owners and people who live in the area aren't convinced it's the best spot for a shelter.
"I think it's entirely inappropriate," asserts Randy Woolgar. "There's seven clubs within 150 metres here. Things get cranking up later in the week all through the night, and I just don't think that the mix for the residents here is going to be the right one."
Businesses are worried it'll cut into their profits by chasing away customers, and residents are questioning the wisdom about putting a shelter in the midst of a popular party hangout, with its access to drugs and alcohol.
If the plan is approved, the shelter could be open by the end of the summer.
"Is there some negative reaction? Yeah. There's some positive reaction. It's just as easy to find as the negative reaction. People tend to get all scared of the homeless as if somehow they're not there already," said city councillor Adam Vaughan.
The City is holding a community meeting at Metro Hall Wednesday at 6:30pm to discuss the proposal.
Well, what do you guys think. Is having a shelter smack in the middle of the entertainment district a good idea? It's too bad Fez Batik went under, and with a prime location like that! I find it hard to believe that none has bought the space and started another business. A place with a huge outdoor patio like that shouldn't go to waste.
___________________
SHUT UP AND DANCE !!
Mar-28-2007 23:19
UmmiE
The Cure And The Cause
Registered: Jan 2007
Location: Brampton
I wonder what club is next?
Mar-28-2007 23:25
TranceGrooves
TiTan Of TrAncE
Registered: May 2005
Location: EVERYWHERE
"Is there some negative reaction? Yeah. There's some positive reaction. It's just as easy to find as the negative reaction. People tend to get all scared of the homeless as if somehow they're not there already," said city councillor Adam Vaughan.
i would like to know how this guy would feel if city wanted to put a shelter around the corner from his house. How comfortable he would be knowing his kids have to pass by the shelter every day to get to and from school. his wife takes a afternoon walk in the park, to which the access is just pass the shelter. Lets see how good of an idea he thinks that is.
Ofcourse homelessness is a problem and it is good to see that the city wants to do something about it but they can easily find another place away from the craziness of Entertainment District.
i seriously question the intelligence of the folks who come up with these ideas and would like to know how they got a spot in the government office
___________________
Let's bring the change!!!
Mar-28-2007 23:31
*~LiSa-LoO~*
Ferry Corsten's bitch
Registered: Mar 2003
Location: on holiday
I think that it's great that they're tryin to do something to help the homeless, however personally I don't think that's the best location. I can an increase in drunken fights
___________________
Shut up and DANCE!!
House moves my body, Trance owns my soul, Progressive drives me wild
Mar-28-2007 23:36
heavenisblue
Senior tranceaddict
Registered: Nov 2006
Location: Canada
I REALLY hope that this doesn't happen. I work at the club directly across the street from fez batik, and I really don't think its a good idea. from an employee point of view, it's actually quite stupid. the earliest that the industry employees get off work is 2:30am, most people later. and a lot of us end up walking home. why would they put a homeless shelter in the one place where people are leaving work at probably the most dangerous time to be on the streets by yourself? just doesn't seem logical.
and it will become a huge pain in the ass and problem for bouncers who have to man the line outside. I live about a block away from comfort zone, where there isn't a homeless shelter but there are quite a few homeless people, and I get asked for money and sometimes they get pretty angry about 10 times a day. on a saturday night, 2 of the hottest places right now are cantina charlies (the club I work at) and lot 332, so they have the longest lines and constantly have drunk people going in and out. can you imagine the amount of homeless people asking for money and pestering people in line? I know that homelesness is a problem and we do need to address it, but the reality is a lot of the people on the street do act in ways that will be more destructive in the entertainment industry then somewhere else.
and now the more I think about it the more I'm worried! I'm gonna ask my manager tomorrow if there is a petition we can sign or something, lol.
Mar-28-2007 23:53
TranceGrooves
TiTan Of TrAncE
Registered: May 2005
Location: EVERYWHERE
quote:
Originally posted by heavenisblue
I'm gonna ask my manager tomorrow if there is a petition we can sign or something, lol.
excellent idea D. if all the folks in the area get togather and make some noise about this hopefully the city officials will come to their senses.
___________________
Let's bring the change!!!
Mar-29-2007 00:01
Yohan
Champion of Deep&Nu-disco
Registered: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ont, Soviet Canuckistan
Call me cynical, but since when did the City care about the entertainment, specifically clubs?
Less of these dens of sin, drugs and techno, better the city will be, right?
Originally posted by chinamon
not true. i say "ugh"
but i am a tranny.
quote:
Originally posted by kotsy
lol colour me retarded
Mar-29-2007 00:04
heavenisblue
Senior tranceaddict
Registered: Nov 2006
Location: Canada
quote:
Originally posted by TranceGrooves
excellent idea D. if all the folks in the area get togather and make some noise about this hopefully the city officials will come to their senses.
yeah there are quite a few clubs just at that corner that I'm sure are upset. and we can make noise. we can make lots of noise. hell that's what we're paid to do, haha!
and Tanya also just reminded me about tourism. the entertainment district has become a popular tourist spot. actually, I meet a lot of tourists at work from all over the world..not smart to put a homeless shelter in the middle of a tourist attraction.
I'm really upset about this if you can't tell, lol
Mar-29-2007 00:08
jon jon
viva la clubland
Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Footwork
quote:
Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~*
I think that it's great that they're tryin to do something to help the homeless
LOL classic lisa!
quote:
Originally posted by TranceGrooves
i seriously question the intelligence of the folks who come up with these ideas and would like to know how they got a spot in the government office
I feel the same way, this actually reads like a joke. Like are they fucking serious?
tbh I don't see what's so funny in the fact that I think it's great that they're at least thinking of helping other people rather than how they can make more money.
Is it the best location? Probably not.
___________________
Shut up and DANCE!!
House moves my body, Trance owns my soul, Progressive drives me wild
Mar-29-2007 00:26
Yohan
Champion of Deep&Nu-disco
Registered: Jan 2004
Location: Kitchener, Ont, Soviet Canuckistan
quote:
Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~*
tbh I don't see what's so funny in the fact that I think it's great that they're at least thinking of helping other people rather than how they can make more money.
Don't kid yourself Lisa.
Homelessness will always be a problem, and the govt knows that there's no effective solution for it.
The little they do is just for PR so that the bleeding hearts feel good for something little being done for the homeless
Originally posted by chinamon
not true. i say "ugh"
but i am a tranny.
quote:
Originally posted by kotsy
lol colour me retarded
Mar-29-2007 00:31
Tordan
Anti BS Alliance
Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
walking/driving through richmond and peter on a friday or saturday night is already bad enough. throw in some waiting lines for the shelter and panhandlers into the mix of drunken partygoers and edgy cops... what a recipe for disaster.