Well-known landlord and developer Drewlo Holdings is on the defensive, saying it wasn't the company that offered mega money to buy the York Street property where a safe drug consumption site was supposed to go in an effort to kill the deal.

On Monday, the province said no to funding the drug site at 446 York Street, a location backed by the Middlesex London Health Unit and Regional HIV/AIDS London.

Drewlo Holdings owns an apartment building on King Street, directly behind the proposed York Street site at 446 York Street. Drewlo is against locating the drug site there, saying it goes against the city's own rules, and will lead to more security issues.

Drewlo says it hired Blackridge Strategy to lobby the provincial government on "various matter," mainly to do with housing, including the proposed safe consumption facility. It's also one of four businesses in London appealing a zoning bylaw change.

But the company said that was the extent of it's efforts to stop the site.

"Drewlo Holdings did not make the anonymous "mega offer" to purchase 446 York St.," the company said in a statement sent to media just after 9 p.m. Wednesday night.

'Lobbying is not nefarious'

"Lobbying is not illegal or nefarious — it is a necessary (and very public) tool in our political society. It is the presentation of ideas to the government," the company said in its statement.

"If you want to have your interests heard by decision makers, you must participate in the process. It is not by any means a "backroom deal" with the government as reported."

London North Centre NDP MPP Terrance Kernaghan accused the Doug Ford government of "backroom deals" to delay that site, accusing Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott of bowing to lobbyists.

But in an interview on CBC's London Morning, Elliott denied that claim.

Drewlo says the proposed site is not appropriate because it is close to its residential tower and to Beal secondary school.

"We believe the community has a moral responsibility to help individuals with addiction problems. That being said, 446 York St. is not an appropriate location," Drewlo said in its statement.

"Through our opposition appeal we are looking out for the interests of students, our staff and tenants at the neighbouring tower, and all the people who live in the mixed residential area near the proposed safe consumption facility."