The John Howard Society hosted an open house on Tuesday to show members of the public its plans for a halfway house in a southeast Calgary industrial park. (CBC)

Calgarians in some upscale neighbourhoods in southwest Calgary were shown the latest plans for a controversial halfway house proposed for the area.

The John Howard Society wants to relocate its Bedford House — a residential facility with monitoring for paroled criminals — from Victoria Park to Builders Road in the southeast Manchester light industrial park.

But many residents of nearby Elboya, Elbow Park, and Parkhill-Stanley Park have been trying to block construction of the 32-bed facility since it was proposed two years ago.

They have argued the halfway house will be too close to Stanley Park — across Macleod Trail — whose playgrounds and pools could be tempting for pedophiles who may be housed at the facility.

But Tuesday's lightly-attended open house to solicit public input on the detailed plan could be an indication that opposition to the project is waning.

Christie Simmons, who lives in Parkhill, said the John Howard Society is putting fears to rest.

“These things are very closely monitored. I have a great deal of faith in the system, generally things go wrong, but things go wrong whether there's a halfway house in your neighbourhood or not,” she said.

Chase Deschover, who has a business next door to the proposed location, said the people who will live in the halfway house need to be re-integrated into society.

“I don't fully agree with hiding them in an industrial area, but I can understand finding a community that's willing to accept this into their community is going to be a tough thing too,” he said.

The society's executive director Gordon Sand said sex offenders will be electronically monitored to help reassure the communities.

Application for a development permit is the next step. Construction is at least a year away.

In 2007, the society tried to relocate Bedford House to the southwest community of Sunalta, but local opponents were able to convince the city to block that move.