JASON SETNYK
Cornwall City Council has directed a pause on its proposed Bridge Housing initiative, halting plans for a 30-unit transitional housing project while Administration reassesses how to move forward.
Council directed the pause during a Special In-Camera meeting on March 16.
Details, including the discussion, rationale, and vote, were not disclosed, with the March 20 media release serving as the only public record of the decision.
The now-paused proposal had identified three potential sites: Knox-St. Paul’s United Church on Twelfth Street, 244 Saunders Drive, and the parking lot of the Cornwall Police Service’s East End station on Montreal Road. The project was intended to provide temporary, supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness, with 30 small sleeping cabins and a central services building offering amenities and wraparound supports.
Mayor Justin Towndale emphasized that the pause does not signal abandonment of the initiative.
“Bridge housing remains a genuine priority for this Council,” said Towndale. “Pausing is not stepping back – it is taking the time to get this right.”
According to the City, the decision was driven primarily by operational and procedural factors rather than public opposition. Administration cited incomplete site due diligence, provincial funding timelines, and the need for a more comprehensive, cross-departmental review involving Municipal Works, Legal Services, Finance, and Planning.
The City confirmed that community feedback gathered through three public open houses and online surveys informed the process, but was not the determining factor in pausing the project.
Those consultations drew significant public attention. A final meeting at the Best Western attracted about 100 residents, where concerns were raised about safety, site suitability, and neighbourhood impacts. Residents at earlier sessions voiced a mix of support and opposition, with some emphasizing the need for housing solutions while others questioned location choices and potential effects on surrounding communities.
At the same time, operational concerns were also raised by the Cornwall Police Service regarding one of the proposed locations. Police Chief Shawna Spowart told the Police Service Board that using the Montreal Road site could significantly impact operations at the East End station, including the collision reporting centre and overall parking capacity.
In addition, the City said the project was being advanced with provincial housing program support, but discussions with the Province are ongoing and it has not disclosed the status of that funding or specific program details.
A full accounting of costs associated with the project to date, including site studies, engagement, and planning, is still being compiled and will be included in a forthcoming report.
Council has directed the Chief Administrative Officer, Tim Mills, to report back within 60 days with recommendations on internal process improvements and next steps. That report is expected to outline options for a revised bridge housing proposal and inform a future budget cycle.
In the meantime, the City has cancelled a planned town hall on the project and says it will continue working with community partners, non-profits, and social service agencies to shape the next phase.
“We are not walking away from this work,” Towndale said. “We owe it to the people who need transitional housing to make decisions that are sustainable, well-planned, and backed by the community.”
The pause marks a significant shift in a project that had been moving toward a council decision on a preferred site, previously expected as early as April 13, following public consultations.
While the current proposal will not proceed at any of the three sites, the City says it will continue to advocate with MPP Nolan Quinn and MP Eric Duncan for funding solutions to support transitional housing in Cornwall.
L’article City pauses contentious bridge housing but plan remains “genuine priority” est apparu en premier sur Cornwall Seaway News.
