Problem Central Ave. apartments to be converted for student accommodation
A problematic apartment block on Central Ave. will soon be boarded up by the owner as he gets set to renovate it for use as student accommodation.
Pastor Vern Temple said he will continue to run his ministry at the site of the former ‘CB Building,’ but the last of his 50 tenants will be gone by the end of the month.
“In order to renovate we have to get everyone out. There is no other way,” Temple told paNOW. “We considered getting in security, like a Commissionaire, but it would have been dangerous and we didn’t want anyone getting harmed.”
Temple acknowledged that his attempt to offer low-cost accommodation to marginalized people in the community has not worked out as he planned, largely because gang members would habitually move into the building with family members or friends. He said that would lead to the violence, vandalism and noise issues that have plagued the site. The apartments have been the focus of concerns from the city, police, and fire department in recent years, with hundreds of calls reported.