Old Kinsmen Child Centre in Cambridge set to be turned into multi-use building
Posted Oct 11, 2023 12:11:05 PM.
Last Updated Oct 11, 2023 01:04:08 PM.
Regional councillors voted unanimously to explore converting the old Kinsmen Children Centre in Cambridge into a new building for emergency services and affordable housing.
The proposed five storey building will house an ambulance bay on the ground floor, an emergency shelter on the second, and 33 affordable housing units on floors three to five.
The site at 651 Concession Road Drive is 1.08 acres with the building proposed at 40,000 square feet. An initial estimated cost of the project is $35 million, including construction, consultation, internal fees, equipment and furniture.
Regional Councillor and long time Cambridge resident Pam Wolf expressed her approval of the project at the Administration and Finance meeting on Tuesday.
“I strongly support this,” said Wolf. “Obviously, in Cambridge we’re looking for all those needs to be met. It will be a very exciting project in an excellent location.”
Next steps are for staff to return to council next year with a redevelopment plan and updated costs.
The Kinsmen Children Centre was first opened in 2004 by the region and was closed in September 2021. Since then, it has been used as a COVID isolation centre and a temporary homeless shelter.
