City hall softens stance on funding fire and security repairs at troubled Tolpuddle Housing Co-op

Officials at London City Hall are showing signs that they may release provincial funding for the troubled Tolpuddle Housing Co-op. Daryl Newcombe explains.

Provincial funding to repair security and fire monitoring systems inside the Tolpuddle Housing Co-op building could soon flow, but a solution to the deeper financial crisis and safety issues must wait for a staff report next month.

On Monday, the president of the co-op board addressed the Community and Protective Services (CAPS) Committee, “If anybody in this room does not feel the urgency of this issue, I don’t know what we can do!”

Last week, CTV News toured the troubled building at the corner of Adelaide and King streets that includes a mix of market-rent, affordable, and rent-geared-to-income (RGI) apartments that are home to low-income individuals, families, the elderly, and disabled.

Stairwells were covered in graffiti, drywall was smashed, and security and fire monitoring systems near the entrances were damaged.

The board president said 15 units are vacant because the co-op can not afford to repair extensive damage caused by previous tenants.

On Monday, Jo Dee Phoenix reiterated to the committee that high-acuity individuals from London’s housing waitlist had been assigned to RGI apartments even though the building was never designed, and has no supports, for tenants with severe addiction or mental health conditions.

“Council has done nothing to help those people [except] try to house them,” she said. “What resources do they have at Tolpuddle? They have zero!”

A recent report to council indicated that Tolpuddle Housing Co-op is scheduled to receive $91,632 from the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) to repair the “security and fire monitoring system” at the entrances to the building.

But according to Coun. Susan Stevenson, city staff had informed the Co-op that to receive the COCHI funding, a construction lien for $77,000 would also have to be resolved.

“It’s those two, the fire [monitor] and the security that is what they desperately need, along with the payment of a construction lien that they are fighting [and] they don’t want paid,” Stevenson told colleagues on the committee. “What I was told was that it was a take it or leave it, it’s all three or nothing.”

Deputy City Manager of Planning and Economic Development Scott Mathers responded, “There’s something happening like the telephone game here between all the different pieces, but all the information that I have says that we’re prepared to be able to provide the funding as soon as possible.”

Mathers confirmed that city staff would separate approval of the COCHI funding from the unresolved construction lien.

Meanwhile, three fire inspector vehicles were parked outside the Tolpuddle Housing Co-op on Wednesday.

A resident said her unit was inspected to ensure it was in compliance with the Ontario Fire Code.

Resolving the financial crisis being experienced by the building will be the subject of an upcoming report to the CAPS Committee.

“Specific to the Tolpuddle building, what we heard was that staff are coming back with a report April 13, which is the next CAPS (meeting) to provide us with more information,” explained Chair Coun. Corrine Rahman.