The City of Kingston is moving forward with the planned wind‑down of temporary emergency shelter services at 38 Cowdy Street (Adelaide Street Shelter) and advancing next steps for the site’s future use

A report is being brought forward at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, with recommendations for moving forward. A summary of the recommended next steps is provided below.

Adelaide Street Shelter Wind‑Down

• The Adelaide Street Shelter was always intended as a temporary emergency response to homelessness.
• With a new emergency shelter site now open and supportive housing sites coming online, the City will wind down emergency shelter services at the Adelaide Street Shelter on March 31, 2026. The last night of service is March 31, and all residents must vacate the shelter by 9 a.m. on April 1, 2026.
• Shelter users are being supported through coordinated access and intensive case management to help transition them to appropriate housing and services.
• It is important to note that the shelter beds currently located at the Integrated Care Hub will continue to operate and City staff will work closely with Addiction & Mental Health Services to support the long-term retention of the 24 beds.

Short‑Term Use After Shelter Closure

• Following wind-down of emergency shelter services at 38 Cowdy Street, the building will be closed to the public.
• Council is being asked to approve a short‑term (up to 6 months) lease with Lionhearts Inc. to allow vocational laundry services to continue temporarily while they transition to a new location. The vocational laundry provides laundry services for local shelters and does not serve individuals.
• During this time, the full site — including Frontenac Parkette — will remain closed.

Planned Redevelopment of the Site

Based on building condition, safety considerations, and community feedback, staff are recommending that Council reaffirm the original long‑term vision for the property:

• Demolish the former school building (planned for Q4 2026).
• Expand Frontenac Parkette, creating a larger neighbourhood park.
• Sever and sell a small portion of the property along Cowdy Street for future residential development.
• Reinvest all proceeds from the housing land sale into park development.

Housing and Park Planning

• Any future housing will be along Cowdy Street only, with planning focused on small‑scale and attainable housing options.
• Expanded parkland will support recreation, accessibility, and community connection, aligned with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
• Staff will develop design options and site plans and report back to Council by Q3 2026.

Community Engagement

• Engagement in 2025 and 2026 showed support for park expansion and mixed views on housing.
• Key themes included a desire for transparency in the planning process, safety, park functionality and housing affordability.
• The community will have future opportunities to provide input on park design and housing options. Updates on engagement will be shared via Get Involved Kingston.

Strategic Alignment

This approach supports City Council’s Strategic Plans through:

Theme: 1. Support Housing Affordability

Goal: 1.1 Promote increased supply and affordability of housing.

Theme: 3. Build an Active and Connected Community Goal:

3.1 Expand parks and recreation opportunities and participation.

The full report can be found in the City Council Meeting Agenda.

Further updates will be shared to the 38 Cowdy Street Get Involved Kingston page and sent to project subscribers.

The following update was shared on the 924/928 Sydenham Road project page last week:

"Beginning late next week, we will start welcoming residents [to 928 CFOC-Doors of Compassion Shelter on Sydenham Road] through a phased approach, with all anticipated residents settled in by the end of February. This gradual transition allows individuals to settle in with stability and dignity while ensuring our team can provide attentive, person-centred support from day one."

We are sharing this update as phased occupancy of this shelter is tied to the March 31, 2026 winddown of emergency shelter services at 38 Cowdy Street as discussed at the Dec. 10 meeting.

Updates will continue to be shared on Get Involved Kingston and emailed to subscribers

At the near neighbour meeting on Dec. 10 and through the online form from Dec. 22, 2025 to Jan. 14 2026, the City accepted comments on the proposed site plans for 38 Cowdy St. We received feedback from over a dozen residents who shared their thoughts on the proposed market housing and park revitalization. Below is a summary of the community feedback which has been sorted according to Support, Concerns and Requests with the existing plans.

Support

Mixed Use (Park + Housing)

• Some residents believe the combined park and market housing plan is a good idea which can add needed green space and address the ongoing housing shortage.
  
• Others support the idea specifically if:
  • Housing is modest in scale (e.g., townhouses).
  • Some affordable units are included.

Support for Park Improvements

• Strong support for creating a park, gardens, and paths.
• Residents express appreciation for efforts toward green space and improved community amenities.

Concerns

Process

• Some residents shared frustrations with the engagement process as the intention for housing was only discussed in closed Council sessions and did not align with prior community feedback. Specifically residents cited the absences of community ideas from the June 2025 engagement (e.g., community centre, daycare).
• Residents feel they were asked to comment without adequate information (size of parcel, number of lots, zoning, or parkland retained).
• Neighbours want more honesty and transparency around the process and why the sale of public property is necessary for park revitalization. Specifically, some neighbours question why housing must be placed on this site in order to fund the park and whether there are different precedents for funding parks.

Impact on Community & Park Function

• Some neighbours cited that the property is too small to successfully support both a meaningful park and housing.
• Residents also expressed concern of a “big developer” taking over the project.There is fear this form of development may overlook the community’s needs
• Residents were concerned that adding housing will reduce access points and make the park feel like a courtyard for adjacent homes rather than a community space.
• One neighbour also felt reduced sightlines from new housing and fencing could create opportunities for encampments, drug use, and decreased safety.
• Security during shelter wind-down must remain strong; residents do not want the site turned into a new shelter.

Requests

Housing Preferences

• Interest in affordable housing, not just market housing.
• Preference for smaller-scale housing, such as townhouses or small homes—not
• large apartment buildings.
• Desire for housing people can actually afford, given current economic challenges.

Park & Community Space Features

• Requests for:
  • Combined children’s play area and community dog park.
  • Community gardens.
  • A walking path for people and pets.
  • Park space designed for true public use and visibility.

Next Steps

This feedback will be used to inform future engagement events on potential opportunities for lot sizes, location of housing, parkland size, and other considerations. Further engagement events with neighbours will be scheduled as plans for 38 Cowdy St. Progress.

As the new Shelter on Sydenham Road begins a phased opening in February, the winddown at the Adelaide Stree Shelter will proceed as planned. Beds will gradually be reduced as capacity is added to the new shelter. Operations at the Adelaide Street Shelter will end March 31, as shared in December.

Stay subscribed to this page to continue receiving updates

Feedback will remain open until January 14, 2026.

All comments will be summarized and shared to Get Involved Kingston. This feedback will be used to inform future engagement events on potential opportunities for lot sizes, location of housing, parkland size, and other considerations.

Dear Residents and Neighbours,

Thank you for your ongoing interest in the 38 Cowdy Street Project.

We would like to invite you to a near-neighbour meeting and workshop to learn how updates about the shelter are supporting the community, and to share an update on the winddown of Adelaide Street Shelter.

Wednesday, Dec. 10
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Zion Foundation Seniors Housing Complex (Common Room)
106 Pine street

Light refreshments with be served.

To help us with planning, please RSVP by emailing GetInvolvedKingston@CityofKingston.ca

The meeting will take the same format as when we last met in June, with a brief presentation sharing updates from the Housing & Social Services team, followed by facilitated table conversations.

For anyone not able to make the meeting, we will post updates and What We Heard reporting on the Get Involved Kingston page.

Thank you again for your ongoing interest in the project. We look forward to continuing the conversation in a few weeks.

The 38 Cowdy Street Project Team

Hello Adelaide Street Shelter Neighbours,

Thank you for your continued interest in the Adelaide Street Shelter.

In response to community feedback regarding the meeting location at Central Public School, we are rescheduling the upcoming Nov. 13 community meeting to a future date when the cafeteria at Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School (Regi) is available. We are currently exploring available dates and will update you as soon as possible.

We appreciate your input and are committed to ensuring the meeting location is accessible and convenient for everyone.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone or email, or by asking a question on Get Involved Kingston.

Warm regards,

38 Cowdy Street Project team

Dear Residents and Neighbours,

We appreciate your ongoing interest in the operations and winddown of the Adelaide Street Shelter. Since we last met in person in June, we’ve shared updates about the shelter on Get Involved Kingston. We would like to invite you to a near-neighbour meeting and workshop to learn how these updates are supporting the community, and to share an update on the winddown of Adelaide Street Shelter.

Thursday, Nov. 13
5:30-7 p.m.
Central Public School (gymnasium)
237 Sydenham St.

Light refreshments will be served

To help us with planning, please RSVP by emailing GetInvolvedKingston@CityofKingston.ca.

The meeting will take the same format as when we last met, with a brief presentation sharing updates from the Housing & Social Services team, followed by facilitated table conversations.

For anyone not able to make the meeting, updates and What We Heard reporting will be posted on the Get Involved Kingston page.

Thank you again for your ongoing interest in the project, we’re looking forward to continuing the conversation in a few weeks.

38 Cowdy Street Project Team

Dear Neighbours,

We would like to share a quick update about some upcoming activities happening in and around the Adelaide Street Emergency Shelter.

Crane Work – September 4 & 5

The City of Kingston’s Engineering Department is coordinating work with a nearby homeowner that will require the use of a crane. This work will temporarily affect a portion of the roadway on Adelaide St. and the shelter’s parking lot. During this time, shelter staff will need to park on neighbouring streets. Housing staff will be on-site each morning to help facilitate the closure of the lot and part of Frontenac Park.

Excavation Work – Date To Be Determined

Later in September, the City’s Facilities Management & Construction Services (FMCS) team will begin an excavation project to repair rainwater drains that have caused flooding on site. The work will take place in the courtyard outside the building. More details on this project will be shared with you once the schedule is confirmed. Please know that Housing staff and Lionhearts (the shelter operator) will continue to work together closely to keep the site safe and accessible for all guests.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we complete this important work and continue to improve the Adelaide St. Shelter for everyone.

Sincerely,

The Adelaide Shelter team