Dundas vacant city property reviewed for children's hospice

City of Hamilton real estate staff will explore the possibility of Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice acquiring vacant city-owned land behind the Wentworth Lodge long-term-care home at 41 South St. W. for a potential 40,000-square-foot, 10-bed children's hospice.

The property was identified by the city in 2017 to generate revenue for creation of affordable housing.

A motion passed at the Jan. 18 general issues committee requires public consultation on the proposal at the hospice's expense.

City staff were directed to determine the feasibility of disposition of the estimated 3 to 3.5-acre site, between Woodward and Lynden avenues, to the hospice including but not limited to valuation, tenure, land use and maximization of site utilization."

Staff are required to report back to GIC with recommendations respecting a land disposition strategy for the subject site."

Jason Thorne, general manager of planning and economic development, said staff have been talking with the hospice for a while now on potential sites. This is an exploratory phase."

He said staff will come back to the committee with options - including possible sale or long-term lease.

They've been at this for a little while and nothing has panned out," Thorne said. This site has some potential."

Doug Mattina, Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice director of the pediatric hospice project, said the hospice is a registered charity and non-profit.

He said the proposed children's hospice would include a 10-bed residential wing for end of life and respite care, pain and symptom management and transition from hospital to home, and a community wing.

The community wing will house day programs, medical clinics, a centre of excellence for grief and bereavement, as well as other events and attributes that will welcome so many," Mattina said. Much of the design of the building has relied on the parcel of land to be acquired."

He said they hope to provide ways to welcome neighbours and the community inside and outside the facility.

Mattina said specific details of the building size, design and amount of space needed are only now being developed.

The motion was simply to enter an exploratory stage and many answers will only emerge once due diligence is completed," Mattina said.

In a letter requesting the exploratory phase" to test the viability of this acquisition," Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice Foundation board chair Janice M. Shearer stated the project is not a new concept.

Not only has the train left the station,' but it is in fact far down the track," Shearer's letter states. We have taken extraordinary measures to ensure our readiness, including, an unprecedented joint venture partnership with Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster Children's Hospital."

She states the location would serve the community in many ways, including provision of a serene and tranquil environment.

Shearer's letter states committee's endorsement of the request while a first step, is so meaningful ... we are poised to work with you, your staff and the city to ensure this fit is not just appropriate, but something you will be proud of for decades to come."

McMaster Children's Hospital president Bruce P. Squires wrote a letter to enthusiastically encourage your support toward the gifting of the parcel of city-owned property ... for the purposes of a pediatric hospice."

Squires described the property as ideal to deliver the envisioned home and care offering."

In August 2020, Bob Kemp Hospice was considering parcels of publicly owned land on west Mountain and in Westdale. They were looking for a gift of land.

The hospice had raised approximately $7 million toward and estimated $25-million goal.

The proposal at the time was for a two- to three-storey, 40,000-square-foot building with two wings with in-patient and outpatient services.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: We wanted to find out more about Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice's request to explore the potential for a pediatric hospice on vacant city-owned land behind Wentworth Lodge in Dundas.