Affinity Credit Union to begin weighing offers for former St. Mary's Advice Centre building on 20th Street

It's not a typical real estate transaction.

Affinity Credit Union will know today who exactly is interested in buying its building at 1515 20th St. W. It closed its St. Mary's Advice Centre at the location in April, citing at the time "significant safety concerns and operational challenges" in a news release.

Affinity then invited potential buyers to submit "expressions of interest" on the land and building by July 15.

The branch is across the street from Prairie Harm Reduction, which serves a significant number of unhoused people with addiction and mental health issues. The area is dotted with encampments on the street and in parking lots. The neighbourhood has struggled in recent years with assaults and murders.

What makes this sale process different is how Affinity wants a say in what happens to the site after the sale.

"We could just list it for sale; that would be an easy way out for us," said Affinity chief executive officer Nilesh Kavia.

"But we've been in that community … it's just fair to the community for us to think about what's the best use of that location to serve the community as a whole."

Affinity is looking for a buyer who reflects the organization's key values of openness, honesty, commitment and inclusivity, he said.

Kavia didn't want to speculate which type of proposal would best satisfy this criteria. But a decision earlier this year by city council puts an end to any plan for an emergency shelter at the site.

Council decided that emergency shelters with beds must be at least 250 metres from elementary schools. The St. Mary's Advice Centre is about a block away from a primary school.

"There may be options of some sort of wellness type of function that doesn't result in overnight stays," Kavia said.

Adam Pollock is president of the Pleasant Hill Community Association and has lived in the neighbourhood for 13 years. He said it's important to appreciate that Pleasant Hill is more than homeless people and individuals struggling with complex needs.

"I would like to see one of the many amenities that we've lost in the last five years go into that property," he said.

"Pleasant Hill has lost a bakery. We've lost our bank. We've lost medical professionals.… I would like to see something that provides services for everyone in the community, not just the people who are struggling. That's my personal view on it."