Some residents living around Adams Avenue in central St. John's were relieved Monday evening after city council voted to reject rezoning the former Salvation Army building.

Leonard Phair bought the property for $1 million in hopes of running a for-profit transition house, but for now, council has put the brakes on that plan.

Ward 2 councillor Hope Jamieson said the current zoning regulations for a transition house only include government and non-profit companies.

Jamieson, along with other councillors, said there aren't sufficient regulations in place to ensure adequate supports for the people using the service in regards to a for-profit home.

These signs are posted around the area of Adams Avenue in St. John's. (Eddy Kennedy/CBC)

"It's important that we have more facilities who can house people who are in need of transitional housing. I am not convinced this is the right way to go about it," she said.

Phair had argued that he would be providing a needed service with the transition house, with a business model already in use in five other houses across the city.

Leonard Phair is a landlord in St. John's that provides emergency shelter for people with nowhere to go. (Ryan Cooke/CBC)

He told CBC News in March that the homelessness problem in the city needed to be addressed, and circulated a letter to residents that he said explained his proposal and provided contact information.

Community opposition

Victoria Balsom sat in the gallery of council chambers Monday evening, holding her one-year old daughter.

"The windows of the transition house look right into our backyard and we bought our house to start our family and for our little daughter to be able to play in the backyard," she said.

Victoria Balsom sat in on Monday nights council meeting with her daughter. (Meg Roberts/CBC)

"We didn't think the for-profit housing would have the kind of security … needed to look after the residents that are staying there."

Some residents in the Adams Avenue area organized against the proposed transition house, posting signs stating their opposition, voicing concerns about safety and oversight, and circulating a position in opposition to Phair's zoning request.

This former Salvation Army building was once home to a training program for officers, which means it has dozens of dorm rooms and offices. (Eddy Kennedy/CBC)

Balsom said she feels like councillors made the right decision in listening to and acting on the community's concerns.

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