Kitchissippi Coun. Katherine Hobbs has secured $35,000 from a developer to help the Parkdale Food Centre to build a new teaching kitchen.
The Hintonburg food bank is negotiating to move into the basement of 30 Rosemount, a building the Somerset West Community Health Centre bought last year and plans to operate as a second site starting in September.
Hobbs said Tuesday the food centre is one step closer to its dream of a fully fitted teaching kitchen after she used Section 37 of the province’s planning act to negotiate with Brigil Homes. A teaching kitchen is a place where people can learn about meal planning and healthy eating and how to prepare meals for themselves and their families.
Section 37 delivers cash for capital projects such as affordable housing, public spaces and community services in exchange for increased height and density. In this case, an agreement for $400,000 was struck in 2013 for development at 121 Parkdale Ave.
But because the money wouldn’t be payable until 2016, Hobbs was able to leverage a demolition application for derelict buildings on Parkdale the company wants to tear down and secure the money for the food centre two years early.
The move to 30 Rosemount will provide the food centre with a permanent home and allow it to expand from two to four days a week.
Being located in a health centre will also mean clients will have an opportunity to connect with the various health services provided by Somerset West CHC., the councillor said.
“It helps take care of people, and that’s the goal of having the two together,” Hobbs said.
“We really bring the community together by doing this.”
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