A plan to create a peer to peer addiction mentoring program with up to five recovering addicts living out of a home on Drouillard Rd. isn't going forward as initially envisioned.
"I'm going to praise the Lord with the decision of today whether it was for it or against it — the house is going to be a recovery centre," says John Button, the man behind the plan for an addiction recovery program.
Windsor city council rejected the needed re-zoning amendment to help create the lodging house.
Council voted in favour of the community groups in Ford City concerned the location of the proposed recovery home would hamper businesses and the revitalization efforts in the area.
While those opposed to the re-zoning supported the cause of the recovery home, many felt the location for the proposed program wasn't in keeping with the main street feel community activists want.
Alan Usadov is the residential engagement coordinator for Ford City Neighbourhood Renewal and stressed to council — it all comes down to the location.
"This would not align with the current plan of the Business Improvement Association, Ford City Neighbourhood Renewal, Ford City Residents in Action and the Community Improvement Plan," says Usadov.
A coffee shop or store front are more what local leaders would like to see.
John Button looks for a re-zoning to property at 1052 Drouillard Rd. to allow for an addiction recovery program at the regular council meeting for the City of Windsor on February 26. 2018. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Button pursued the plan after recovering from addiction himself and celebrating five years of being sober on February 9.
He says the failed re-zoning just means his plans change slightly.
"We're going to open up a recovery centre that will probably have a day program and different meetings a night time, celebrate recovery, Christian Soldiers coffee shop — they want a coffee shop, we'll give them a coffee shop," says Button.
Button feels the main street location is important for the success of his proposed recovery program.
"We are building a lighthouse here for recovery and you don't put a lamp on a back street," says Button. "You put the lamp on the front street so that when the addict wants recovery in that 10 second window that they're thinking about it or that 10 minute window that they're walking down the street or a block over — they know they can come to the house and somebody is going to help them."
Button provided council with a petition signed by 45 people supporting the needed re-zoning for the lodging house, but it wasn't enough to sway the votes in his favour.