Rationale
for this Project:
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The
Emerald Street Treatment Centre occupies two former properties at 22 &
24 Emerald Street South
. These properties are both
in excess of 100 years old. In the 1980’s the two residences were
connected to form a single larger facility.
While the renovation improved the viability of the facility as a
treatment centre from an operational and security perspective, there was
little to no investment provided towards improving the infrastructure of the
two existing structures.
This proposed renovation project
to the facility would see no increase in resident capacity but allow
for an increase in the amount of program space and the creation of a new
employment centre. As well the project would facilitate an overall upgrade
to the facilities’ security, energy efficiency and accessibility level.
In
recent years two engineering inspections have been completed on the
facilities. The multitude and varied list of issues to be addressed as a
result of these inspections is too extensive to list in this document but
are available for review on the project website. Additionally, there are a
number of global factors which support this project.
Community
& Public Safety Factors:
·
This
is an aging structure which requires upgrades to security systems to
effectively monitor client movement.
·
Renovations
will allow for installation of state-of-the-art alarm, camera and personal
safety systems.
·
The
creation of specialized handicapped accessible areas and some healthcare
facilities will create a safer environment for clients requiring these
services.
·
The
proposed changes will not only protect the community through increased
monitoring of clients but also protect the client from unwanted community
influences through increased constraints on access by negative elements from
the community.
Employment Creation Factors:
·
The
renovations will result in the creation of 20,000 hours of employment during
the renovation project and 40,000 hours over the next ten years.
·
The
project will create opportunities for training and employment of
hard-to-serve individuals.
·
The
project will be completed in collaboration with existing training facilities
in the region.
Environmental Factors:
·
The
facility will become more eco-friendly which should result in substantive
cost savings in the future as energy costs continue to rise.
·
The
renovations will create a more positive and energy efficient living space
for residents.
Financial Factors:
·
The
Emerald Street Facility is one of the primary capital assets of the agency.
Improvements will protect and/or enhance the value and viability of this
asset for the future.
·
Improvements
will serve to substantively decrease maintenance and utility costs going
forward thereby deriving a potential long-term cost savings.
·
There
are significant existing issues within the infrastructure of the building
which require action. This includes the electrical system, plumbing system,
heating and cooling systems and insulation. To replace each of these systems
individually would entail incurring higher costs than completing all work
concurrently.
·
There
appears to be some federal and provincial funding alternatives available to
assist with the cost of renovations thereby ameliorating the financial
impact on the agency.
Programming Factors:
The
proposed renovations will facilitate the following:
·
The
renovations will allow for a greater flexibility to pursue enhanced program
and treatment options.
·
The
proposed renovation plan allows for work to be completed without a decrease
or substantive impact on operations.
·
To
accommodate an expanded spectrum of both residential and community-based
programs (e.g.: employment resource centre, attendance centre, expanded
program space).
·
Allow
for an increased community presence within the facility (e.g.; AA, NA,
medical services).
·
The
renovations will facilitate increased and better access to special needs
clients, particularly those persons in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.
·
There
is potential to create employment opportunities for agency clients through
completion of the renovations.
·
Enhanced
programming space could facilitate closer working relationships with our
community partners through the provision of working space for non-agency
employees.
Other Factors:
·
The
renovated facility will create a better image of the
St. Leonard
’s Society to the
community and continue to add to the process of urban renewal for the
Lansdale/Stinson neighbourhoods.
·
The
planning process will present an opportunity for community partners to have
input into the renovation planning process. This will facilitate the
creation of a more versatile facility in the future.
