Pubdate: Thu, 05 Oct 2006
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2006 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Sarah Regan, National Post

ADDICTION CENTRE TO BE REDESIGNED TO 'ERASE STIGMA'

Stores, Homes To Be Added To Help It Blend Into Queen St.Neighbourhood

This morning, in an attempt to overcome a 156-year-old stigma, the 
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is taking the first step in 
transforming its image from "insane asylum" to hip urban village.

The hospital is to be integrated into its Queen Street West 
surroundings in three phases by 2010, at a cost of $382-million.

"The physical environment makes an enormous difference in how clients 
recover," said CAMH CEO and president Dr. Paul Garfinkel. "We're 
building a facility that makes clients and neighbours feel more welcome."

Nearby streets -- Adelaide, Fenning and Brookfield -- will be 
extended south into the CAMH campus, making room for new business 
such as retail stores, coffee shops and even homes.

"The main point is to erase the stigma," said architect Frank 
Lewinberg, whose company, Urban Strategies Inc., planned the 
redevelopment of CAMH.

"My hope is that people will eventually stop thinking of the clinic 
as the 999 Queen Street loony bin, and see it as any other part of the city."

The plan's first phase will see the creation of three client-care 
facilities, each with 24 private campus-style residences. These 
apartments will cater to patients in CAMH's addiction and mood and 
anxiety programs who are past the acute stage of their illness and 
need help making the transition back into society.

CAMH is one of the largest addiction and mental health organizations 
in North America, with more than 600 beds and 300 physicians. Dr. 
Garfinkel said he hopes the number of patients will double with the 
completion of the project.

The institution's neighbours said yesterday they look forward to a 
time when it blends in with the neighbourhood.

Jo-anne Spencer, who has owned a three-bedroom home on Brookfield 
Street across from the facility for seven years, is confident the 
hospital's makeover will create a better sense of security for her 
eight-year-old daughter.

"I think she'll feel better when she can look across the street and 
not be constantly reminded that there is an insane asylum over there.'

Mrs. Spencer said she and her husband carefully considered CAMH's 
proximity before purchasing their home in 1999. They eventually 
decided buying a home off Queen Street West was a great investment, 
no matter who their neighbours were.

"In the end it's not about us," she said. "It's about whether the 
clinic is going to be a more pleasant environment for the people who 
get treatment there."

Creating a more comfortable environment was Mr. Lewinberg's master 
plan. He says the project is particularly close to his heart.

"This project has been a big part of my life for the past five 
years," said Mr. Lewinberg, whose recent work includes the 
transformation of the Art Gallery of Ontario in 2002.

"It's not just about buildings, it's about making this mental health 
facility into a welcoming place for patients to get help."
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MAP posted-by: Elaine