Hope Clinic withdraws purchase of Ave Maria on Forest Ave.
(November 22, 2006) The board of directors for Hope Clinic have decided to not pursue the purchase of the Ave Maria property on Forest Avenue in Ypsilanti. Citing opposition from residents in the Riverside Neighborhood Association, Hope Clinic Executive Director Cathy Robinson said they are looking elsewhere for space.
"There was a great deal of work necessary for Hope to proceed," said Robinson. "From rezoning the property, site plan, conditional use, and more. All of which would be an up hill battle. It would have been even more difficult starting from the negative without the support of the neighborhood."
At a special meeting with Hope and the Riverside Neighborhood Association held on November 2, residents expressed concern over increased vehicle traffic as well as increased non-resident pedestrian traffic. Residents were also concerned about the loss of green space to new parking.
Robinson said that Hope was going to start over as they still want to look to consolidate their different operations into a single location. Currently, Hope has about 2,000sf of space for the medical clinic and 1,000sf for their Dental Clinic. They have an immediate need for 2,000sf of new space for the two clinics. Robinson estimates that they need about 10,000sf of total space for all their programs and staff.
2 Comments:
RNA members were very sincere and supportive of the county-wide work done by the staff and volunteers at Hope Clinic. The RNA neighborhood, even on the Ave Maria site, was just not the best place in members' opinions. RNA is fighting to work with the City in its downzoning and to be good neighbors to EMU, the nearby apartments and students renters. We're primarily residential, and the 40-50 residents and property owners who came to the meeting opposed Hope at this site.
Hope Clinic should be more centrally located, close to bus lines, close to larger parking areas ... relaizing that 95% of Hope clients come by appointment, that this is not a "typical" social services location or an emergency clinic ... resdients who have madee an investment in a personal residence or an income property feel that Hope is needed, belongs in Ypsi, and trusts that a site will be found that will serve Hope's growing needs.
- Ed Penet, Secty. RNA
Is there another space that RNA suggests? If it's true that Hope Clinic operates primarily with appointments, then it is completely different from our other social service operations in town.
I'm a resident home owner who lives across the street from a more usual service agency. It operates in a more residential site than the former Ave Maria. My frustrations with the service delivery near my home is that it is not by appointment, rather specific services are provided on specific days, and overload traffic and parking.
Are the City (and RNA) fighting to assure that services have a place to be provided?
Post a Comment
<< Home