Carmichael Outreach seeking Regina city council support for move

A Regina community organizationthat provides food programs, needle exchanges and other services is looking to move and is asking for the green light from city council.

However, some people who live in the area CarmichaelOutreach wants to call homethink that's a bad idea.

• Needle exchange in residential neighbourhood worries Regina community
• Planned Carmichael Outreach move upsets some

Carmichael Outreach currently operates out of a building at 1925 Osler St. in the Heritage area, but it says it's outgrown the space and wants to move 2 blocks away to a larger facility.

The new site is at 1510 12th Ave. and 1872 St. John St., and will have to be rezoned for some of the services Carmichael provides.

The proposal has drawn some 48 written responses from the public.

Of those, 29 say they're OK with the plan, or at least part of it, but 19 are completely opposed.

Opponents say they're worried the movewill bring more crime and social problems to a mostly residential area.

City officials are in favour of the plan, saying it will result in the renovation of a dilapidated building and will help fight drug use and crime in the area, not make it worse.

Council will discuss the project at its regular meeting that starts today at 5:30 p.m. CST. A number of delegations are scheduled to speak to the proposal at city hall.