To the concerned members of the community, we are reaching out to advise that a meeting was held with representatives from the City of Port Coquitlam, New View Society, and Kelly Avenue residents to address growing concerns and to clarify information about the BC Housing development on Kelly Ave. 

While the meeting provided some insight, many community questions remain unanswered. The overall message from officials could be summed up as: “Just trust us,” which left many attendees feeling uncertain.

Key Takeaways from the Meeting:

• The new building will include 74 units, with up to 90 residents.
  Initial move-in will involve around 18–22 residents, with more moving in over time.
• No criminal background checks will be done. New View stated they “know their members.”
• Mental health conditions among residents may range from anxiety and depression to schizophrenia.
• When asked about staffing, no clear information was provided; staffing plans are still being developed.
• Addiction history will not exclude residents unless issues are “recent,” though “recent” was not clearly defined.
• The City assured this would not be like the Gordon Avenue project. However, at least one current Gordon Ave resident is confirmed to move into the new building.
• No guarantees could be made regarding community safety.

Next Steps:

• New View offered tours of their current Mary Hill Road facility upon request.
• A list of community questions was submitted to both New View and the City for follow-up.
• A request was made for data on New View's performance at other sites (e.g., calls for police service).
• A public information session and open house have been requested, so residents can ask questions directly.
• The parking variance meeting will take place in early September. If the variance is denied, the current plan may be canceled and replaced with another BC Housing project.

We understand that this issue raises a wide range of emotions and concerns. As a community, we ask for transparency, consultation, and reassurance that these projects are developed in a way that considers both the needs of future residents and the safety of our neighbourhood.

Please continue to share the petition and voice your concerns to all levels of government—especially your MLA in Victoria.