Neighbours reach compromise with Greenwin to keep more family-friendly apartments

A new deal between a property management company and the BeasleyNeighbourhood Association involvingapartments on John St. andHughsonSt. means Hamilton families living there won't be kicked out of their homes.

TheBeasleyNeighbourhood Association (BNA) has reached a compromise with Greenwin Inc., a company that planned to phase out all but 10 of its three-bedroom apartments at 181 John and 192 Hughson St. The move, the BNA feared, was designed to push out lower-income families and replace themwith singles and urban professionals.

Right now, the buildings have 65 three-bedroom units. Greenwin, in its renovations, planned to reduce that to 10. The compromise is 35 three-bedroom units, andat least 25 per cent of apartments being two bedrooms. It also includes letting existing tenants stay.

It's a compromise that will keep some of the families housed. It also prevents a long, drawn out battle at the Ontario Municipal Board.

"We traveled a long way in a short time and surprised even ourselves," said Rob Fiedler from the BNA.

It marks a finish line for an issue thatfor two years, had residents fearing for their futures.

In 2015, the Social Planning and Research Council held a community meeting with residents who felt they were being shoved out.

Severalresidents shared stories of being called into meetings with building management. They feltpressured, they said, to sign documents agreeing to move out in exchange for a one-time payment and their last month's rent. Some said they were offered $2,000.

Greenwinhas deniedtrying to displace people, saying it's doing needed repairs. CEO Kris Boyle told the city's committee of adjustment in June that Greenwin has spent $3.1 million so far to renovate 181 John St. N. It's spent another $2.9 million, she said, to renovate 192 HughsonSt.

The company has also spent about $190,000 combined on pest control at the two buildings. Rents, she said, range from $1,050 to $1,250, including utilities.

Both sides called in former city councillors to help. Greenwinhired former mayor Larry DiIanni as a consultant. Brad Clark, a former Stoney Creek councillor and MPP, helped the BNA broker the compromise.

City council's planning committee discussed the compromise Tuesday.

Jason Farr, Ward 2 councillor, also gave notice that he'd ask the city to look into a "family friendly housing policy." That would mean developers have to consider families when building rental units, condos and affordable housing.