A Port Coquitlam landlord wants a privately-owned methadone clinic operating in his building to move because it's too close to a daycare and some of the clients or their friends are causing disturbances.
Chris Manolopoulos owns the building at 3200 Westwood St. and appealed to Port Coquitlam council this week for help dealing with the Tri-Cities Methadone Suboxone Clinic, saying he fears his other tenants will move because of the problems.
In an interview with The Tri-City News this week, Manolopoulos acknowledged the need for services to help people with opioid addiction, especially with B.C. facing an overdose epidemic, but said the clinic is in the wrong location.
Clients who are using the clinic for treatment are bringing friends who hang out in the parking lot causing disturbances, Manolopoulos said.
It’s become a place for loitering, he added, telling The Tri-City News he had to remove all the outside electrical outlets because people were using them to plug in their phones.
“I have tenants there who are having a problem hiring staff," he said. "They don’t want to work after five or six o’clock because they don’t want to leave. [The methadone clients] are hanging around the parking lot.”
Every day, he said, daycare tots are walking past the clinic and he fears a negative interaction. While he calls RCMP frequently when problem arise, he said he is worried things will only get worse.
In one recent case a woman accompanying someone using the clinic created a scene and when police arrived it was revealed she had a knife, he said.
The Tri-City News has reached out to the clinic owner but has yet to hear back.
But Manolopoulos believes it’s the clinic, not nearby residents of a homeless shelter or other people causing problems because issues only arose when walk-in clinic service for methadone and Suboxone treatment were added.
To make tenants and clients feel safe, he’s added security cameras, no loitering signs and plans to hire a security guard. He would like the clinic to move but hasn’t been able to get the owner to end the lease.
Appealing to the city was an effort to get some action because of a newly-approved bylaw that requires methadone clinics to obtain city approval, something the Tri-Cities Methadone Suboxone Clinic didn’t have to go through because it was already in place.
He was told by city council there is not much it can do, but politicians approved a plan for staff to consider legal options and report back.
Mayor Brad West said he, too, was surprised to learn of the PoCo clinic, and plans take up the matter with the RCMP.
“We pay them a lot of money and their job is to provide community safety in Port Coquitlam,” he said.
However, city staff confirmed a number of things have already been done, including safety improvements carried out by the landlord, and regular patrols by RCMP, city bylaw officers and hired security guards.
In Port Moody, meanwhile, Fraser Health operates a clinic and currently supports 70 clients with opioid agonist therapy that include Suboxone and counseling but it has no authority over private clinics.
“Pharmacies are regulated by the Ministry of Health and Health Canada,” Fraser Health spokesperson Tasleem Juma stated in an email.
1680 Broadway St., Unit 118, Port Coquitlam, B.C. V3C 6P6
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TwitterA Port Coquitlam landlord wants a privately-owned methadone clinic operating in his building to move because it’s too close to a daycare and some of the clients or their friends are causing disturbances.
Chris Manolopoulos owns the building at 3200 Westwood St. and appealed to Port Coquitlam council this week for help dealing with the Tri-Cities Methadone Suboxone Clinic, saying he fears his other tenants will move because of the problems.
In an interview with The Tri-City News this week, Manolopoulos acknowledged the need for services to help people with opioid addiction, especially with B.C. facing an overdose epidemic, but said the clinic is in the wrong location.
Clients who are using the clinic for treatment are bringing friends who hang out in the parking lot causing disturbances, Manolopoulos said.
It’s become a place for loitering, he added, telling The Tri-City News he had to remove all the outside electrical outlets because people were using them to plug in their phones.
“I have tenants there who are having a problem hiring staff," he said. "They don’t want to work after five or six o’clock because they don’t want to leave. [The methadone clients] are hanging around the parking lot.”
Every day, he said, daycare tots are walking past the clinic and he fears a negative interaction. While he calls RCMP frequently when problem arise, he said he is worried things will only get worse.
In one recent case a woman accompanying someone using the clinic created a scene and when police arrived it was revealed she had a knife, he said.
The Tri-City News has reached out to the clinic owner but has yet to hear back.
But Manolopoulos believes it’s the clinic, not nearby residents of a homeless shelter causing problems because issues only arose when walk-in clinic service for methadone and Suboxone treatment were added.
To make tenants and clients feel safe, he’s added security cameras, no loitering signs and plans to hire a security guard. He would like the clinic to move but hasn’t been able to get the owner to end the lease.
Appealing to the city was an effort to get some action because of a newly-approved bylaw that requires methadone clinics to obtain city approval, something the Tri-Cities Methadone Suboxone Clinic didn’t have to go through because it was already in place.
He was told by city council there is not much it can do, but politicians approved a plan for staff to consider legal options and report back.
Mayor Brad West said he, too, was surprised to learn of the PoCo clinic, and plans take up the matter with the RCMP.
“We pay them a lot of money and their job is to provide community safety in Port Coquitlam,” he said.
In Port Moody, Fraser Health operates a clinic and currently supports 70 clients with opioid agonist therapy that include Suboxone and counseling but it has no authority over private clinics.
“Pharmacies are regulated by the Ministry of Health and Health Canada,” Fraser Health spokesperson Tasleem Juma stated in an email.
A Port Coquitlam landlord wants a privately-owned methadone clinic operating in his building to move because it’s too close to a daycare and some of the clients or their friends are causing disturbances.
Chris Manolopoulos owns the building at 3200 Westwood St. and appealed to Port Coquitlam council this week for help dealing with the Tri-Cities Methadone Suboxone Clinic, saying he fears his other tenants will move because of the problems.
In an interview with The Tri-City News this week, Manolopoulos acknowledged the need for services to help people with opioid addiction, especially with B.C. facing an overdose epidemic, but said the clinic is in the wrong location.
Clients who are using the clinic for treatment are bringing friends who hang out in the parking lot causing disturbances, Manolopoulos said.
It’s become a place for loitering, he added, telling The Tri-City News he had to remove all the outside electrical outlets because people were using them to plug in their phones.
“I have tenants there who are having a problem hiring staff," he said. "They don’t want to work after five or six o’clock because they don’t want to leave. [The methadone clients] are hanging around the parking lot.”
Every day, he said, daycare tots are walking past the clinic and he fears a negative interaction. While he calls RCMP frequently when problem arise, he said he is worried things will only get worse.
In one recent case a woman accompanying someone using the clinic created a scene and when police arrived it was revealed she had a knife, he said.
The Tri-City News has reached out to the clinic owner but has yet to hear back.
But Manolopoulos believes it’s the clinic, not nearby residents of a homeless shelter causing problems because issues only arose when walk-in clinic service for methadone and Suboxone treatment were added.
To make tenants and clients feel safe, he’s added security cameras, no loitering signs and plans to hire a security guard. He would like the clinic to move but hasn’t been able to get the owner to end the lease.
Appealing to the city was an effort to get some action because of a newly-approved bylaw that requires methadone clinics to obtain city approval, something the Tri-Cities Methadone Suboxone Clinic didn’t have to go through because it was already in place.
He was told by city council there is not much it can do, but politicians approved a plan for staff to consider legal options and report back.
Mayor Brad West said he, too, was surprised to learn of the PoCo clinic, and plans take up the matter with the RCMP.
“We pay them a lot of money and their job is to provide community safety in Port Coquitlam,” he said.
In Port Moody, Fraser Health operates a clinic and currently supports 70 clients with opioid agonist therapy that include Suboxone and counseling but it has no authority over private clinics.
“Pharmacies are regulated by the Ministry of Health and Health Canada,” Fraser Health spokesperson Tasleem Juma stated in an email.
Chris ManolopouloA Port Coquitlam landlord wants a privately-owned methadone clinic operating in his building to move because it’s too close to a daycare and some of the clients or their friends are causing disturbances.
Chris Manolopoulos owns the building at 3200 Westwood St. and appealed to Port Coquitlam council this week for help dealing with the Tri-Cities Methadone Suboxone Clinic, saying he fears his other tenants will move because of the problems.
In an interview with The Tri-City News this week, Manolopoulos acknowledged the need for services to help people with opioid addiction, especially with B.C. facing an overdose epidemic, but said the clinic is in the wrong location.
Clients who are using the clinic for treatment are bringing friends who hang out in the parking lot causing disturbances, Manolopoulos said.
It’s become a place for loitering, he added, telling The Tri-City News he had to remove all the outside electrical outlets because people were using them to plug in their phones.
“I have tenants there who are having a problem hiring staff," he said. "They don’t want to work after five or six o’clock because they don’t want to leave. [The methadone clients] are hanging around the parking lot.”
Every day, he said, daycare tots are walking past the clinic and he fears a negative interaction. While he calls RCMP frequently when problem arise, he said he is worried things will only get worse.
In one recent case a woman accompanying someone using the clinic created a scene and when police arrived it was revealed she had a knife, he said.
The Tri-City News has reached out to the clinic owner but has yet to hear back.
But Manolopoulos believes it’s the clinic, not nearby residents of a homeless shelter causing problems because issues only arose when walk-in clinic service for methadone and Suboxone treatment were added.
To make tenants and clients feel safe, he’s added security cameras, no loitering signs and plans to hire a security guard. He would like the clinic to move but hasn’t been able to get the owner to end the lease.
Appealing to the city was an effort to get some action because of a newly-approved bylaw that requires methadone clinics to obtain city approval, something the Tri-Cities Methadone Suboxone Clinic didn’t have to go through because it was already in place.
He was told by city council there is not much it can do, but politicians approved a plan for staff to consider legal options and report back.
Mayor Brad West said he, too, was surprised to learn of the PoCo clinic, and plans take up the matter with the RCMP.
“We pay them a lot of money and their job is to provide community safety in Port Coquitlam,” he said.
However, according to PoCo staff a number of actions have already been taken, including safety measures taken by the landlord at the city's request, patrols by city bylaw officers, a hired security guard and RCMP Uniformed Drime Reduction Officers.
In Port Moody, meanwhile, Fraser Health operates a clinic and currently supports 70 clients with opioid agonist therapy that include Suboxone and counseling but it has no authority over private clinics.
“Pharmacies are regulated by the Ministry of Health and Health Canada,” Fraser Health spokesperson Tasleem Juma stated in an email.A Port Coquitlam landlord wants a privately-owned methadone clinic operating in his building to move because it’s too close to a daycare and some of the clients or their friends are causing disturbances.
Chris Manolopoulos owns the building at 3200 Westwood St. and appealed to Port Coquitlam council this week for help dealing with the Tri-Cities Methadone Suboxone Clinic, saying he fears his other tenants will move because of the problems.
In an interview with The Tri-City News this week, Manolopoulos acknowledged the need for services to help people with opioid addiction, especially with B.C. facing an overdose epidemic, but said the clinic is in the wrong location.
Clients who are using the clinic for treatment are bringing friends who hang out in the parking lot causing disturbances, Manolopoulos said.
It’s become a place for loitering, he added, telling The Tri-City News he had to remove all the outside electrical outlets because people were using them to plug in their phones.
“I have tenants there who are having a problem hiring staff," he said. "They don’t want to work after five or six o’clock because they don’t want to leave. [The methadone clients] are hanging around the parking lot.”
Every day, he said, daycare tots are walking past the clinic and he fears a negative interaction. While he calls RCMP frequently when problem arise, he said he is worried things will only get worse.
In one recent case a woman accompanying someone using the clinic created a scene and when police arrived it was revealed she had a knife, he said.
The Tri-City News has reached out to the clinic owner but has yet to hear back.
But Manolopoulos believes it’s the clinic, not nearby residents of a homeless shelter causing problems because issues only arose when walk-in clinic service for methadone and Suboxone treatment were added.
To make tenants and clients feel safe, he’s added security cameras, no loitering signs and plans to hire a security guard. He would like the clinic to move but hasn’t been able to get the owner to end the lease.
Appealing to the city was an effort to get some action because of a newly-approved bylaw that requires methadone clinics to obtain city approval, something the Tri-Cities Methadone Suboxone Clinic didn’t have to go through because it was already in place.
He was told by city council there is not much it can do, but politicians approved a plan for staff to consider legal options and report back.
Mayor Brad West said he, too, was surprised to learn of the PoCo clinic, and plans take up the matter with the RCMP.
“We pay them a lot of money and their job is to provide community safety in Port Coquitlam,” he said.
In Port Moody, Fraser Health operates a clinic and currently supports 70 clients with opioid agonist therapy that include Suboxone and counseling but it has no authority over private clinics.
“Pharmacies are regulated by the Ministry of Health and Health Canada,” Fraser Health spokesperson Tasleem Juma stated in an email.
