REHAB CENTRE CAUSES CONTROVERSY

Many local residents are alarmed by the city's proposed plan to set
up a rehabilitation centre in the Dunbar area.

The residents in that area are rallying together to prevent a drug
and alcohol rehabilitation center from opening on the site. They are
concerned that the new centre will put them at a higher risk for
theft and will put their children in danger.

The city purchased the site for over $3.5 million. This site consists
of a 35,000 square-foot lot located at the southeast corner of Dunbar
and West 16th Avenue. Currently, only small businesses are located on the site.

Residents say that their concerns were heightened when they were told
that the patients of the rehab facility would only be required to be
sober for sixty days prior to admittance. ("One of my concerns is if
it's a rehab center, there's a liquor store half a block away. To me
that doesn't make sense," said Barbra Gumbel, a Dunbar resident.

CBC News reported that over 300 Dunbar residents attended a meeting
with civic election candidates two weeks ago. The question on
everyone's mind: do the candidates support a rehab center being set
up in their community?

Sam Sullivan, the new mayor-elect of Vancouver stated that no
decision had been made about the land. He did not want to speculate
on what he believes to be rumours.

According to the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, only one mental
health treatment facility is currently located in Kitsilano. Another
facility is located in the City Hall/Marpole Area.

Rob Whitlock, the city's senior social housing planner, believes the
concerns of the residents are premature. "No decision has been made
as to the nature of the social housing on the site," he said.

Whitlock noted that a rehab centre would not put the community at
risk and that safety is still the city's priority. "Past experience
with such projects is that these projects do not represent a danger
to children or schools or families in the neighborhood."

Whitlock also pointed out that these same concerns were expressed and
dealt with when the city proposed to open a treatment facility in the
Riley Park area.

Despite objections from residents, the city opened a Triage facility
to treat drug addictions and alcoholism at the corner of West 39th
Avenue and Fraser Street, last year.

Patrick Zoden, program director of the Orchard Recovery Centre,
agrees with Whitlock's stance. "My experience is, and I have worked
in support recovery for many years, is that there is very, very
little negative consequences to the neighbourhood," said Zoden.
"Generally, [support centers] compliment the neighbourhood."

To address resident concerns, the city issued a letter informing
residents that the use for the site is still up for debate. The
letter emphasised that it is a strong possibility that the site could
still be used as seniors housing and that residents should not be
concerned. However, many residents feel that the letter ignored the
more prominent issue of whether residents will be safe from drug addicts.

Whitlock states that the city is currently doing a study with the
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. "We're working with them to look
at supportive housing needs city-wide. They are working with us in
the preparation of that plan, which will be presented to council next year."