Delays in Security Upgrade at Kingston Housing Complex

An empty electrical box is fastened to the wall next to the front door of 381 Bagot St. in Kingston, Ont.

Similar boxes are found throughout the social housing building near stairwells and elevators. All of them are empty.

They’re meant to hold a fob reader for an advanced security system that’s supposed to make the troubled highrise safer. But more than six months after the Kingston Frontenac Housing Corporation (KFHC) announced that new locks would be installed, residents are still relying on their old keys to enter.

In the meantime, the building continues to receive more police calls than any other residential address in the city.

Mary Lynn Cousins Brame, KFHC’s CEO, previously told CBC that installation of the locking system was set to begin in January. Seven months later, tenants are still waiting.

“The locking mechanism systems are in high demand and they were on back order for three months, so that has caused the project to be delayed,” Cousins Brame said in an interview at the end of June.

An empty electrical box at 381 Bagot St. in Kingston, Ont. It’s meant to house part of a new high-security lock system that was supposed to be installed starting in January. Months later, residents are still waiting. (Dan Taekema/CBC)

At that time, she mentioned that the locks were expected soon and installation would take four to six weeks, meaning they should be ready by August.

A notice sent out to tenants last Friday provided a new timeline: Work on “door security” will kick off during the first week of August and will take “approximately three months to complete,” pushing back the anticipated finish date to October.

Former Tenant Still Refers to Building as ‘Trauma Tower’

Tracey Nicholson stated that tenants were initially informed KFHC aimed for the locks to be operational by March and noted staff had apologized for delays earlier this summer.

No matter when it’s installed, it will come too late for Nicholson, who moved out of 381 Bagot St. at the end of May.

Tracey Nicholson nicknamed the building ‘Trauma Tower’ because of its impact on her mental health. She moved out at the end of May following a break-in at her apartment. (Dan Taekema/CBC)

She waited 11 years for social housing but only managed about four years at this orange brick building she called “Trauma Tower” due to how it negatively affected her physical and mental well-being.

Nicholson mentioned that a break-in at her unit earlier this year finally made her decide enough was enough. With help from a community member, she found an apartment not owned by KFHC.

“I can go outside now when it’s dark, so I get to see the stars. I don’t have to sleep with a weapon under my pillow, so that’s a great thing,” she said. “And when I am out doing errands, I look forward to coming home because it’s a safe place to be.”

Residents of troubled Kingston highrise still waiting for security upgrades

Residents living in a Kingston, Ont., apartment building have been waiting over six months for a new lock system installation. Meanwhile, this building continues topping charts for police calls among residential addresses in town.

The Building Leads In Police Calls

Kingston Police data reveals that between January 1 and early July, there were 151 calls made regarding service at this Bagot Street property.

This is more than any other residential location within city limits; however, this isn’t just isolated as several other KFHC properties also see frequent police activity.

The police data indicates seven out of ten addresses with numerous police calls belong to buildings managed by this social housing provider.

Mary Lynn Cousins Brame is CEO of the Kingston & Frontenac Housing Corporation. (Dan Taekema/CBC)

Cousins Brame acknowledged these statistics as accurate but added that collaboration with local police and fire departments has helped reduce emergency responses somewhat.

“Our population is vulnerable. That’s why they’re in social housing; they have all kinds of needs,” she explained while noting guests visiting tenants often contribute issues as well.

“We’ve had several units taken over by drug dealers after tenants vacated them. So yes-police calls and emergency services requests remain significantly higher.”

Not All KFHC Properties Will Get New Locks

Despite these numbers indicating significant issues, Cousins Brame stated “high-security” locking systems won’t be applied across all KFHC locations; only larger or midrise buildings will receive them.

The CEO shared details on how residents will use fobs enabling entry into their properties alongside activating elevators or gaining access through stairwells before scanning again upon entering their individual units.

This means even if someone manages sneaking inside, a person would primarily be limited only up until main floor level per Cousins Brame’s statement aiming towards curbing issues posed by “homeless or unwanted people.”

Future plans include additional safety measures