North Canton Residents Oppose Turning Hotel into Veteran Housing

ICAN Housing Solutions plans to turn North Canton’s only hotel into veteran housing, and many residents of North Canton, including some City Council members, feel uneasy about it.

The agency, which helps people with psychiatric disabilities obtain housing, wrote last month to North Canton City Council informing members of its decision to rehab the into 25 permanent apartments for adults — 17 efficiency and eight one-bedroom apartments.

It’s not something Laura Young wants to see near her home.

“If you do any research into ICAN Housing Solutions, there is nothing on their website about veterans. Nothing,” said Young, who joined about 50 other residents in North Canton City Hall Monday night. She said the agency is trying to sell their idea to North Canton by “wrapping it in an American flag.”

But the problem with housing veterans so close to her home, where she said about 50 children live in an allotment, is that it might not be safe for those living around the apartments.

She also was concerned that ICAN would allow others who are not veterans to live there, saying the money to operate the apartments would come from Housing and Urban Development.

Councilman Jeff Davies, who spoke with ICAN’s executive director, said that’s true.

“Because of funding, they can’t say it will be specifically for veterans,” he said. “They can’t pick and choose because they take a certain amount of money from the government.”

He added “there’s very little upside for the city of North Canton,” while Councilman Dan Peters said “it has zero positive impact on the city.”

ICAN Executive Director Maryellen Cameron wrote in her Jan. 27 letter to council: “Eligibility for the Harleigh House includes participation in services to optimize tenants’ success in procuring or improving employment and other means of contributing to the community.”

She said in the letter an on-site service coordinator will ensure residents meet residency obligations. They will receive credit counseling services, be given help finding community job trainings and primary health care and help finding recreational activities.

Construction would begin in September and end in June 2012.

Resident Chuck Osborne also spoke against ICAN’s plan, telling council members the location along Main Street isn’t the best spot for veterans.

“I would think there’d be much better locales with a much greater buffer to provide some serenity and green space around them,” he said.

He said the apartment building will not create jobs within the city.

“I would urge this council to tread lightly,” Osborne said. “It appears from the turnout here tonight — and I wish it was like this every night — that I’m not going to be alone on this one.”

Council President Daryl Revoldt said council needs to find out how its opinion will affect the plan, while other members said ICAN's plan could hit snags once it gets to the Zoning Board.

Councilwoman Marcia Kiesling said council will decide next week whether it supports ICAN’s plan. It will meet on Tuesday instead of Monday, which is Presidents Day.

Several residents also showed up to speak about the Eastwood subdivision and its streets' “disintegration.” Residents said they’ve been showing up at council meetings for years asking for improvements.

Council Vice President Jon Snyder said council could look into a community development block grant to help fund the necessary road improvements (the city has $600,000 for street improvements this year). Davies suggested citizens petition to get a road-improvement levy on an upcoming ballot.

Council also had its first reading on an ordinance that would allow the city to charge residents . Those permits now are free.