By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
There’s a revamp underway at the former Park Street Place seniors’ residence in Dresden, but it’s unclear what the future holds for the vacant building.
A reporter from The Voice attended the facility Aug. 21, and observed painting and cleaning going on near the lobby, as well as a COGECO service truck in the parking lot. But after questioning a woman working inside about what’s going on, the answer was a terse “no comment.”
Rumours have swirled on social media recently that Park Street Place is to be turned into a homeless shelter or a drug rehabilitation centre but that’s not what both of North Kent’s councillors say.
Rhonda Jubenville said she’s learned from administration the building does not have the proper zoning to operate as a shelter, but current zoning allows it to be used as a seniors’ residence once again without needing any approvals from the municipality.
“There’s nothing we can do to stop that,” Jubenville said, noting she heard a lot of the equipment utilized by Park Street Place has been thrown away.
“Maybe it will be a good thing because there is a need for these types of services for seniors.”
North Kent Coun. Jamie McGrail said she too has been informed that the building can’t be used as shelter, noting the municipality doesn’t have to be kept in the loop unless there’s a zoning change.
McGrail hopes that whatever service comes to the Park Street property it “won’t fall through the cracks.
“If it is a seniors’ home, it will be provincially mandated,” the councillor pointed out. “The municipality has been trying to find out what operation is going in there to ensure it is a legitimate company. It’s definitely on our radar.”
Park Street Place became embroiled in controversy last year, when the Retirement Home Regulatory Authority revoked its licence to operate a seniors’ residence. This came on the heels of a host of complaints regarding negligence of care of residents. Ongoing problems at the site came to head Sept. 25, 2023 when no staff were available to care for residents or dispense critical medications.
According to previously published reports, a resident was injured when they fell from a wheelchair but did not receive any follow-up care.
No charges have been laid against the former owner of Park Street Place despite the fact RHRA regulators attended the facility earlier last September and issued a warning letter.
Seniors’ home operators who break the rules can face a $50,000 fine for a first offence and much larger fines for subsequent infractions.
After the license was revoked, the building was sold for $1.2 million to 1000728019 Ontario Inc. of Oakville. According to a provincial website registry, the Ontario company was incorporated Dec. 4, 2023. As of press time, The Voice has been unable to find out who the new owners are.
