ROCKWOOD — With site plan approval set to come forward any day now, a project intended to bring more housing for older adults to Guelph\Eramosa is looking for council support.
Presenting a project update to Guelph\Eramosa council during a committee of the whole meeting Monday, the Eramosa Non-Profit Housing Corporation (ENPHC) is asking the township to waive all planning and building permits so they can build more affordable housing units for older adults at 160 Guelph St.
According to ENPHC board director Michele Dawe, Squires Lodge 2 will have three storeys with 23 units, a common room and green spaces on the same lot as the existing Squires Lodge at 160 Guelph St. in Rockwood "which will allow seniors in the community to live in their neighbourhood close to their friends and family."
The presentation was received for information and council will make its formal decision at a later date, although all councillors offered their support during the meeting.
"I can't impress upon how important this is for a lot of seniors," said Dawe. "All of us are going to get there and to have to leave your community to get accommodation is kinda sad."
The project is "almost shovel ready" with pre-construction design costs estimated at $292,000 and total building costs around $11 million. Dawe said waiving all planning and building permit fees will help the non-profit by reducing the overall project costs.
The group has received $56,000 in financial assistance from the province and the County of Wellington so far. They are also considering looking for public donations once they receive site plan approval.
"We've had people say our rents not high enough but it's non-profit you know we're trying to make affordable living for people," said Dawe. "Today's rents are horrific, and older people can't afford it. They just can't afford that kind of rent. So we're trying to make it fit in with the community."
When asked why more units couldn't be included, Dawe said they couldn't meet the requested parking requirements. There is currently enough parking for each unit to have its own space.
There are close to 100 people on the waiting list for Squires Lodge.
"So we already have the luxury of 26 units, and what we're trying to do is get 23 more units," said Dawe. "I would like more, but I know I have to have a limit here."
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
