The development would stretch from Clark Drive to McLean, on East 1st Avenue

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – People living near Clark Drive and East 1st Avenue in Vancouver are being invited Monday night to look at plans for a new detox centre in their neighbourhood.

The project is a joint venture with the city, Vancouver Coastal Health and BC Housing – with the building to stretch an entire block from McLean Drive to East 1st Avenue.

The withdrawal management centre would include 100 affordable rental units and 20 spaces of short-term transitional housing. It will replace a smaller detox centre on East 2nd Avenue.

A group, which calls itself Community First, has already been formed to raise questions about the project.

Thomas Ferguson helped form the group because he says they don’t like the idea of a withdrawal management centre running 24-7.

“If it was supermarket we would be worried about it. We are concerned about the impact on our neighbourhood, on our residential streets.”

He says he’s not against detox centres, but he questions the size of the facility.

“We’d like a study to be done as to why this development is slated for a residential community. What are the ramifications for traffic and for parking? It’s going to be 24 hours a day, seven days a week. How is that going to affect us?”

The project partners are hosting an open house on Monday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at VCC’s Broadway campus.