Pubdate: Wed, 09 Jul 2003
Source: Oshawa This Week (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 Oshawa This Week
Contact:  http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/info/oshawa/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1767
Author: Martin Derbyshire

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

Downtown Community Weighs In, For And Against, Methadone Clinic

OSHAWA - It doesn't bother owners Kim and Doug Ross their new business, 
Roscoe's Sweet Shoppe, sits directly across the street from the methadone 
clinic the City has fought tooth and nail against.

In fact, they moved into the Simcoe Street space last November knowing 
exactly who their new neighbours would be.

"It really never concerned us, at least not enough to deter us from opening 
a business," said Mr. Ross. "We looked around and we liked this area. There 
are a lot of people who don't even realize they are there."

First Step Medical Clinic is a facility that treats painkiller and heroin 
addicts using methadone, an opiate which doesn't produce a high. It has met 
with a barrage of opposition from City councillors and downtown businesses 
after it decided to move just blocks away from its original home on King 
Street West to Simcoe just north of Athol Street.

The City originally blocked the move, instituting an interim control bylaw 
preventing methadone clinics from moving into the downtown core until it 
had studied possible impacts. That bylaw was struck down by the Ontario 
Municipal Board and the clinic moved in last November.

Just last week, however, Ontario's Superior Court granted the City leave to 
appeal that decision.

But, the consultant who studied possible methadone clinic impacts in the 
downtown core concluded there has been very little impact since First Step 
moved in and Mr. and Mrs. Ross agree.

"We haven't had any real problems," said Mr. Ross, who opened the candy, 
coffee and chocolate shop just days ago, but has been working out of the 
store every day since November, when the clinic opened.

"Parking is the only real problem," added Mrs. Ross. "They park out in 
front (of the clinic) and use the spaces, but they don't really shop 
anywhere else."

In fact, Mr. and Mrs. Ross felt so comfortable with the area they also 
moved from their home in Whitby to the apartment above the store.

"We walk our dog around the neighbourhood every night. It's safe," said Mr. 
Ross. "I think downtown Oshawa is a place with a lot of potential and I 
haven't seen any problems out there, at least not because of the methadone 
clinic."

An informal survey taken Monday on the streets of downtown Oshawa garnered 
mixed reaction, but seemed to bear out a similar response.

Out of 97 people questioned, 59 were not aware of the clinic's whereabouts 
- - the majority of whom didn't even know it existed.

Thirty-eight of those questioned knew about the methadone clinic and its 
general whereabouts and although very few said they felt unsafe in the 
area, many of the 38 said the clinic was creating problems for the already 
downtrodden downtown.

"I really don't think it has changed the dynamic of downtown because 
downtown is pretty much a ghost town as it is. It isn't taking away from 
the business because businesses didn't want to come here before the 
methadone clinic," said Robin Parker, who works downtown. "I haven't seen 
any crime increase."

"I just think it is a bad place for it because of businesses and things 
like that and there are constantly people hanging out down here," added 
Oshawa resident Leo Burton. "I would like to see them move it. I thought 
they were trying to better downtown, not make it worse."

Reaction to the clinic's first eight months of operation from other 
downtown businesses has also varied.

Dino Demeri of Dino's Menswear at 12 King St. E., says the clinic has hurt 
his business.

"I've seen an increase in the number of strange people downtown since it 
opened... they're not regular shoppers," he said.

But, Mr. Demeri admits the problems of downtown Oshawa's struggling retail 
district cannot all be blamed on First Step.

"The empty stores, it's not just downtown Oshawa it's retail businesses all 
over," he said. "I just think this place should not be located in a retail 
environment. What is this: a welfare and drop-in centre or a downtown?"

Jennie Lancaster, manager at The Works, a 24-hour restaurant just north of 
Simcoe and King Street, says when she first heard the clinic was coming she 
braced for the worst.

But, since it has opened she has seen only positive impacts on the downtown 
and the restaurant's business.

"We just have more traffic coming in, and it's positive people, quiet, just 
minding their own business and coming in for something to eat," she said. 
"There are already some problems with downtown Oshawa, but the clinic 
hasn't added to it, not at all, you wouldn't even know they're there."

Anna Visconti, vice-chairman of the Downtown Board of Management and owner 
of Brushstrokes, an art and supplies store at 11 Celina St., a few blocks 
from the clinic, says the No. 1 impact First Step has had is not based in 
reality, but in the perception of what methadone may bring with it.

"I'd be lying if I said it was just the methadone clinic. Downtown we've 
been affected by a lot of things," she said. "But, it's the perception of 
the methadone clinic that's really hurt us. People are afraid to come down 
here. There's nothing wrong with downtown, but the perception can kill you 
more than the actual fact."

Along with the perception, Ms. Visconti, who has fought adamantly against 
the clinic's relocation from the outset, also says she's had some real 
problems since First Step opened.

"I've had to call the police seven times," she said. "There have been 
people shooting up in my parking lot."

Ms. Visconti rents six apartments above her store and says she has had 
trouble filling them since the clinic relocated. "Last year I had no 
problems renting an apartment," she said. "Now, people hear it's downtown 
and they say no. People don't want to come downtown."

- - With files from Alexis Sciuk
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens