The Daniel and Amelia Mowat Residence, built in 1913, would be an ideal spot for the Burnaby Mental Wealth Society, according to a Burnaby Green Party candidate.
The parcel of land the house is located on is being sold to a developer who is planning a 38-storey highrise on Beresford Street. The house is to be restored and moved to McKay Avenue to become rental housing.
But Burnaby Green Party candidate Rick McGowan feels the residence would be better used as a community space, particularly for the Burnaby Mental Wealth Society, which recently lost its provincial funding and is at risk of losing its current home.
"The specific suggestion we made to council was that the Mowat residence could be renovated for use as a clubhouse for the Burnaby Mental Wealth Society," McGowan said in a press release. "Ideally, (the society) will get the funding they require and continue in their current location. But, if they were forced to move, the city has the capacity to keep the society in the neighbourhood and provide a leasing grant that would keep the society's rental costs affordable."
McGowan thinks the city should swap the property for the developer's piece of land on McKay Avenue, and move the Mowat residence there.
"Aside from the fact that the city is selling its prime real estate to developers at bargain prices, the municipal Greens are concerned that the BCA-dominated council has not considered all the possibilities for adaptive reuse of the building," McGowan added. McGowan suggested the idea at an Aug. 30 public hearing on the rezoning necessary to allow for Intracorp's highrise development. He has yet to receive a response from the city about his idea.
"I'm not sure what to expect from that," he said in a followup phone interview, adding he felt the public hearing was more just part of the process of rubber-stamping the developer's plan.
Mayor Derek Corrigan did not respond to requests for an interview on where things are at with the property, or whether McGowan's idea was being considered.
"I think it would be an ideal location for the Mental Wealth Society," McGowan said. "It's still in the neighbourhood and the city could help them with the rental costs."
Carmina Tinaburri, president of the board of the Burnaby Mental Wealth Society, was not available for comment on the idea before press time.
The society's centre is at risk of shutting down after losing its funding from Fraser Health. The funding ended as of Aug. 31.
The society lost its funding after it was told by Fraser Health to prepare a detailed application form with 17 working days' notice in April, according to Jim Tessley, past-president of the society and an active member. Tessley spoke to the NOW about the issue in June, along with Tinaburri.
The society was late turning it in by a matter of 15 minutes, he said, adding it was because of the complexity of the paperwork. The society was told the application was rejected because it was late.
