A Moose Jaw neighbourhood group is calling on city officials to halt work at the historic Chez Nous property, citing concerns over safety standards, zoning compliance, and what they describe as an unusually fast and opaque permit approval process.
In a media release issued Tuesday, the Rosemont Neighbourhood for Safe Avenues said a building permit for 1101 Grafton Avenue was issued in just 15 days, with no public consultation and no visible documentation confirming the project meets National Building Code requirements.
The group supports redevelopment of the long-vacant site, but says the current process lacks transparency and due diligence.
“We’re not questioning development — we’re questioning how a major project like this was approved so quickly, so quietly, and with so many unanswered safety concerns,” said local resident Burleigh Hill, acting as a spokesperson for the group.
“We are especially mindful of the 15-day approval for a significant redevelopment involving an aging, 24,000-square-foot structure.”
City staff have yet to release the full permit package. The group says it filed a Freedom of Information request on July 21, paid the fees promptly, and is still waiting on records — despite the project being reviewed, processed, and approved in roughly the same amount of time.
“Accessing public records is taking significantly longer than approving the project itself,” Hill noted. “That discrepancy alone highlights why an independent review is not just warranted — it’s essential.”
The permit, valued at $320,000, covers interior renovations to convert 52 former rooms into 23 self-contained apartment units. That figure stands in contrast to earlier estimates for code-compliant restoration of the building as a seniors' home, which reportedly exceeded $2 million.
According to the group, the building exceeds the 600-square-metre threshold that triggers Part 3 of the National Building Code, which requires design and oversight by a registered architect or professional engineer. They are asking the City to confirm whether that level of scrutiny was applied.
Concerns have also been raised about off-site parking arrangements. Residents say municipal officials informally contacted neighbours to secure parking, without a public process or Council resolution. The site in question is now for sale, leading the group to question whether future tenants could be left without adequate or accessible parking.
On zoning, the group warns the property may be subject to regulations that limit the extent of renovations and could allow the project to bypass more rigorous institutional safety standards.
The current plan includes housing for vulnerable and at-risk families. The group argues this type of use demands a clearer classification under zoning rules — especially given the building’s size, age, and intended operation.
“The Chez Nous building exceeds 24,000 square feet, triggering Part 3 of the National Building Code (NBC), which applies to any building over 6458.35 square feet or more than three storeys. Part 3 requires professional design and oversight by a registered architect or professional engineer — requirements the group believes must be verified.”
City Council narrowly passed a motion Aug. 11 to begin amending the zoning bylaw so that supportive housing would become a discretionary use in R3, R4, and C2 zones. The group supports the change and is asking Council to go further by including a clear, enforceable definition of “supportive housing” in the bylaw itself.
They argue that without a refined definition, overlapping categories could allow future projects to bypass necessary oversight.
The release ends with six formal requests:
- Immediate release of the complete permit package.
- Verification of compliance with the National Building Code.
- Review of zoning classification and project impact.
- Publication of a binding parking plan.
- Commissioning of an independent third-party review.
- A temporary pause on development until concerns are addressed.
The matter has also been referred to the Saskatchewan Ombudsman, according to the group.