Health unit’s search for permanent supervised consumption site hits road block

It appears that 372 York St. is no longer an option for the Middlesex London Health Unit’s (MLHU) proposed supervised consumption site.

The MLHU found out the property was no longer available Thursday afternoon while conducting a public meeting with people living in the neighbourhood.

Medical officer of health Chris Mackie says they are reconsidering all of their options.

“The landlord decided not to proceed with the lease, so we’re re-evaluating all of our options at this point,” said Mackie.

“We drafted up a lease, and he said it was way off from what he wanted and didn’t think we’d be able to make a deal.”

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Donahue Funeral Home owns the site and Mackie says the landlord’s decision caught them off guard.

There is some uncertainty as to what’s next.

Mackie was going to ask the city’s planning committee to endorse one of the proposed locations during their meeting Monday, either at 372 York St. or another location at 120 York St.

Mackie says he has asked the committee to defer the recommendation to a later day. He tells 980 CFPL that they do have other options.

“Our community is rallying behind this cause. People recognize that the drug crisis is really hitting hard in London, and they’re seeing neighbours, friends, family members overdosing and they don’t want to see that go on,” said Mackie.

READ MORE: London health unit evaluating 2 potential locations for supervised consumption site

“People that have land to offer, and facilities, and care about this issue, are coming out of the woodwork which is really exciting.”

There has been some pushback on the 120 York St. location, saying that it’s too close to Budweiser Gardens and the city’s entertainment district.

Janette MacDonald of Downtown London has said in the past she doesn’t like either of the proposed York Street locations.

Mackie says the community has been rallying around the cause, and they’ve had people with land and facilities to offer who are stepping up.