309 Queen Mary Road

Project background

To meet the needs of the community, the City of Kingston has been acquiring properties for the purpose of affordable, transitional, and supportive housing for several years. In December 2023, 309 Queen Mary Road was purchased from Extendicare which operates a long-term care facility there. The property at 309 Queen Mary Road has the necessary zoning and physical design to allow for transitional supportive housing with complex social and health care services to be provided on site.

Although the property at 309 Queen Mary Road has been secured, specific support services provided to complement transitional housing have not been decided. This property is not intended to be the location for the existing Integrated Care Hub. Rather, this is a unique opportunity to work with community partners to develop and provide both services and housing options on-site for those who need them.

How to get involved


Project background

To meet the needs of the community, the City of Kingston has been acquiring properties for the purpose of affordable, transitional, and supportive housing for several years. In December 2023, 309 Queen Mary Road was purchased from Extendicare which operates a long-term care facility there. The property at 309 Queen Mary Road has the necessary zoning and physical design to allow for transitional supportive housing with complex social and health care services to be provided on site.

Although the property at 309 Queen Mary Road has been secured, specific support services provided to complement transitional housing have not been decided. This property is not intended to be the location for the existing Integrated Care Hub. Rather, this is a unique opportunity to work with community partners to develop and provide both services and housing options on-site for those who need them.

How to get involved


  • What we heard engagement summary

    Public Engagement Reporting

    Public engagement on this project was at the Inform and Consult Levels of the IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation. Throughout the project, staff maintained Frequently Asked Questions News & Updates sections on Get Involved Kingston, sharing project milestones and responses to questions that were received by email and the public engagement platform. Public engagement took place in two phases: pre-engagement and operational plan engagement.

    The pre-engagement and operational plan engagement reports are now available as part of Council Report Number 24-204, including verbatim feedback.

    What we heard during pre-engagement

    Pre-engagement took place February 8 to September 20, 2024. The objective of this broad engagement was to receive questions, concerns and suggestions from interested and affected community members about the project; with community members invited to submit input on Get Involved Kingston, by phone, in writing, email and service request. Staff attended three community-led town halls on February 22nd, March 14th and April 25th . Pre-engagement statistics include:

    • 6,340 visits to the Get Involved Kingston project page.
    • 1,286 visits to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
    • 725 completed surveys from 540 participants.
    • Participants residing at K7M 7E8 completed surveys most frequently (30).
    • 13,000 Get Involved Kingston subscribers updated by email on Feb. 8, Feb. 16, March 15, April 26 and May 29.

    What we heard during operational plan engagement

    The operational plan engagement started September 23rd with an in-person public engagement session hosted by City staff. The session featured a staff presentation and information centres hosted by staff and project partners. A survey was hosted on Get Involved Kingston from September 23rd to October 4th. Participants could engage online, by phone or by mail. Paper copies of the survey were also available at the in-person session. A news release and Get Involved email newsletters were used to communicate these engagement opportunities.

    Operational plan engagement statistics include:

    • 75 people attended the in-person engagement session
    • 624 participants visited the Get Involved Kingston Page
    • 190 participants completed the survey
    • 13,000 Get Involved Kingston participants notified of the engagement opportunities
    • Participants residing at K7M 7E8 completed surveys most frequently (13)

  • Learn more about the operational plan to provide health care, housing and community programs at 309 Queen Mary Road

    With the goal of providing transitional supportive housing, primary health care, and a welcoming community-use space, a new housing and health care facility is taking shape. On Monday, Sept. 23 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., join the City of Kingston and its project partners for an information session to learn about the operational plan for 309 Queen Mary Rd. The session will take place in the cafeteria at Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute (LCVI), located at 153 Van Order Dr.

    City staff will share a 15-minute presentation to review the operational plan for the site, highlight major project milestones and update timelines for when the facility will be ready to welcome residents, patients and community members. Following the presentation, attendees can explore information booths around the cafeteria led by staff and key health, housing and community project partners to learn about key aspects of the project. Information booth topics will include:

    • Timelines for the facility to be ready to welcome residents, patients and community
    • Community programming proposals
    • Capital improvements and financial updates
    • Housing provider partnership and health integration
    • Primary care clinic plans

    A formal Q&A session is not planned as part of this engagement. All information centres will also provide opportunities for community members to share project-specific feedback and ask questions about the project.

    Get involved

    Community members have several ways to get involved.

    • Attend the information session on Sept. 23.

    City staff have previously attended three community meetings organized and hosted by near-neighbours and, in addition, have received more than 200 emails and more than 500 completed pre-engagement surveys. Feedback from pre-engagement was considered in the development of the operational plan. This City-led public meeting is being held ahead of City Council’s meeting on Oct. 15, 2024, when Council will be asked to approve the operational plan and funding strategy for the project.

    To ensure all public engagement is included in this report, community members are asked to direct comments to the City’s Communications & Public Engagement team using the feedback methods listed above.

    About the project

    The City purchased the property in December 2023 to continue to advance Council's 2023-26 Strategic Priorities which include investing in affordable and supportive housing, increasing access to healthcare professionals and services and fostering a caring and inclusive community.

    The vision for Queen Mary Road is to create an integrated model of primary health care, transitional housing and community-based programming achieved through innovative collaborative approaches and partnerships. The project will include a transitional housing program operated by Home Base Housing to support up to 35 individuals who are 55+ years old, a primary health care clinic and a community-use space.

    Through a provision of on-site services, the project will aim to promote wellness and social inclusion, and to support the individual needs of transitional housing residents and community members.

  • City of Kingston and Grenville Park Co-operative Housing Association Limited enter into a new restrictive covenant for 309 Queen Mary Road

    As part of its ongoing efforts to provide essential residential solutions to the community, the City of Kingston has signed an agreement with the Grenville Park Co-operative Housing Association Limited on a new restrictive covenant for 309 Queen Mary Road.

    By entering into this new agreement, the Grenville Park Co-operative Housing Association Limited has agreed to remove the previous covenant on the property which was established when the association first sold the property in 1974. The new agreement was formalized at the May 21, 2024, meeting of Kingston City Council.

    With the necessary zoning and physical design to allow for transitional supportive housing, 309 Queen Mary Road was purchased by the City with the intent of providing affordable transitional housing. The current plans for the site include transitional supportive housing for 30 to 35 people, space for a medical clinic and space for community use. The new restrictive covenant prohibits the use of the property as a consumption treatment (safe injection) site, emergency shelter or as an Integrated Care Hub.

    The agreement also commits to the establishment of a community consultation committee. The committee will include representatives from the Co-operative Housing Association, the City, the surrounding community, and the future facility operators, to ensure continued connection and dialogue between all parties. In December 2023, the city entered into a purchase agreement with Extendicare for 309 Queen Mary Road which operates a long-term care facility there. The City expects to take ownership of the property in fall 2024 and begin renovations.

    Pre-engagement feedback remains open and further engagement opportunities are anticipated to be shared later this summer. Sign up for project updates on Get Involved Kingston.

  • FAQ updates and Community-led town hall

    FAQ updates

    City staff and community partner agencies continue to work together to create an operational model for transitional housing, health care clinic and community uses at 309 Queen Mary Road. As the project evolves, staff will update the project page and FAQ accordingly. The FAQ, published in March, is currently unavailable while it is being updated.

    Staff presentation at community-led town hall

    On April 25, 2024, City staff were invited to a community-led town hall in the Polson Park neighbourhood to bring project updates and answer questions about the project. A staff presentation will be posted in its entirety in the coming days. Key project updates from the presentation include:

    Potential uses (Slide 8 of 13)

    Health Care Services:

    • City working to accommodate space for a primary care clinic which could serve thousands of residents. This is still in feasibility stage. Could occupy about 50% of the building.
    • Potential complementary health care services and professionals.

    Transitional Supportive Housing:

    • 30 to 35 residents aged 55+ years and individuals discharged from the hospital requiring accessible dwelling & health supports. Accommodate aging couples.
    • City staff will be working with KHSC doctors to explore health care support options.
    • Potential of partnership with SLC for student placements.
    • 24/7 on-site support services.

    Community Uses:

    • Kitchen and community room space could be available for various programs.

    Potential uses (Slide 9 of 13)

    floor layout of 309 Queen Mary Road shows housing, clinic and community use areasFloor layout: 309 Queen Mary Road Potential Uses

    Next steps (slide 10 of 13)

    • Refine architectural feasibility for the medical clinic.
    • Continue to work with health care partners and institutions to develop health care supports.
    • Continue to work with housing providers to develop a 24/7 supportive transitional housing model.
    • Continue to work with community services providers to develop a model for community uses.
    • Continue to meet with residents to obtain feedback.
    • Next engagement will be planned for late Spring/early Summer. This will be the 4th engagement meeting.

    Community members are asked to sign up for project updates to stay informed on engagement opportunities.




  • City to explore health care services, including primary healthcare clinic at 309 Queen Mary Road

    In response to the evolving healthcare needs of the community and due to the unique zoning and facility, the City of Kingston is exploring the feasibility of locating health care services, including a primary health care clinic, at 309 Queen Mary Road.

    Kingston, like many communities, is experiencing a demographic shift with a growing aging population, compounded by a significant shortage of physicians and other primary care providers. Recognizing the unique healthcare requirements of this demographic, staff are actively working with community partners to explore the potential of the space at 309 Queen Mary Road.

    While transitional supportive housing will remain the primary use for the facility, the City has always intended to incorporate health care services at this location. A primary care clinic could provide critical access to care to thousands of people within the community, including those who may reside on the property in the future. It is intended that this health care model would include professionals like doctors and nurse practitioners, as well as complementary health care services.

    Purchased by the City of Kingston last December, the property at 309 Queen Mary Road has the necessary zoning and physical design to allow for transitional supportive housing with complex social and health care services to be provided on site. The Consumption Treatment Services and Integrated Care Hub located at 661 Montreal St. will not be located at 309 Queen Mary Road.

    Public engagement regarding the future use of the site began in early February, and staff remain committed to hearing from interested and affected community members. To learn more and to sign up for project updates visit GetInvolved.CityofKingston.ca/309-Queen-Mary-Road

  • Frequently asked questions now available

    Last week, the City initiated pre-engagement on 309 Queen Mary Road. This early work in public engagement allows us to hear concerns, support, ideas and questions before formal public engagement begins later this spring. So far, we have received more than 400 completed surveys and emails, and have identified common themes and questions from that input. Please visit the project page's Frequently Asked Questions section for more information and sign up for project updates to stay up to date on future engagement opportunities.

  • City advances transitional and supportive housing options through property acquisitions

    News release issued Feb. 6, 2024.

    City advances transitional and supportive housing options through property acquisitions

    To meet the needs of the community, the City of Kingston has been acquiring properties for the purpose of affordable, transitional, and supportive housing for several years. Recently, the City acquired 206 Concession Street, 113 Lower Union Street and 309 Queen Mary Road.

    In December 2023, 309 Queen Mary Road was purchased from Extendicare which operates a long-term care facility there. The City takes ownership of the property this summer as Extendicare relocates to a new, larger long-term care home in the west end in 2024. The property at 309 Queen Mary Road has the necessary zoning and physical design to allow for complex social and health care services to be provided on site.

    Although the property at 309 Queen Mary Road has been secured, specific support services provided to complement transitional housing have not been decided. This property is not intended to be the location for the existing Integrated Care Hub. Rather, this is a unique opportunity to work with community partners to develop and provide both services and housing options on-site for those who need them. In the coming months, the City will host public engagement opportunities and work with community partners to develop this operational model.

    On December 19, 2023, the City followed Section 239(2)(c) of the Municipal Act, 2001 (the Act) which provides that a meeting may be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered is a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board. This is the process the City has followed for all its affordable, transitional, and supportive housing and other property acquisitions.

    The City of Kingston remains committed to finding safe, supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness in Kingston and will continue to work with partners to offer services and supports to those who need them. Learn more about housing and homelessness on the City of Kingston website.

Page last updated: 10 Oct 2024, 03:37 PM