Residents are calling for an immediate pause on the planned pool and playground demolition until there is a real health and safety assessment, air-quality testing, and a transparent dust-control plan.
Residents are asking decision-makers to pause the project until:
This is the space residents are fighting to protect. The call is not to ignore community needs, but to stop demolition until real health protections, air-quality assessment, and safer alternatives are fully considered.
The message is simple: do not proceed with demolition that could release concrete dust, silica, paint residue, metal fragments, and rubber particulates into one of the city’s most densely populated communities without a credible health and safety process.
Residents are warning about airborne dust and particulates that could worsen asthma, irritate lungs, and threaten people with existing respiratory conditions.
This site is surrounded by towers, walkways, shops, and daily foot traffic, meaning exposure would not be limited to a closed construction zone.
The concern is not only dust. It is also prolonged noise, vibration, loss of access, and months of disruption beside homes and community spaces.
Residents say the project should not continue without environmental review, community health protections, and clear public accountability.
The request centers on specific, actionable demands that officials can act on right now.
Instead of full demolition, community materials describe repurposing the existing structure into an aquaponic greenhouse and food hub that supports fresh food access, learning, community resilience, and no disruption.
The greenhouse option is framed as shorter, more contained, and less dependent on heavy demolition.
The proposal emphasizes food security, youth learning, local jobs, and stronger year-round public benefit.
Use the message on this page to ask for health protections, air-quality testing, dust monitoring, and a serious review of safer community-led alternatives before demolition proceeds.
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Subject: Pause the St. James Town demolition until health protections are in place Hello, I am asking for an immediate pause on the planned pool and playground demolition in St. James Town until a full health and safety assessment is completed. Residents deserve: - a hazardous materials and environmental assessment - baseline air-quality testing before any demolition begins - a real dust-control and monitoring plan with public reporting - meaningful consultation with residents in their languages - serious review of safer alternatives, including the OASIS Foodhub greenhouse concept This is a dense community with children, seniors, workers, and residents with respiratory conditions living and walking beside the site every day. Please protect the community before any demolition proceeds. Thank you.