Housing projects in Neepawa edges forward

Details

Published on Thursday, April 24, 2014

myWestman.ca

Following up on two previous public consultations, ft3 Architects and NADCO 2103 Inc. came back to the public with the latest version of a senior housing project for the former East View Lodge site in Neepawa.

“This is where we are at now, we aren’t finished yet,” said Martin Duhoux of Ft3,referring to the design of a 42 unit seniors’ housing complex.

It’s planned to be four floors with nine one-bedroom affordable suites, 20 affordable two-bedroom suites and 13 market-rent two-bedroom plus suites. The ‘plus’ refers to in-suite amenities like laundry. The one-bedroom suites are proposed to be 650 square feet, the two-bedroom 810 square feet and the two-bedroom plus suites at 956 square feet. The facility will have an east facing common room on each floor.

NADCO and ft3 are in the process of completing a request for a proposal application for this year’s Manitoba Housing funding. It is hoped that Manitoba Housing will approve the proposal and provide a considerable chunk of the financing for the project.

In addition to funding from Manitoba Housing, the project will be funded through bank loan debt and entrance fees to be paid by incoming residents. Currently, the entrance fees are budgeted at $35,000, $50,000 and $60,000 respectively for the one, two and two bedroom plus suites. The rents are projected to be $650, $804 and $950 per month including heat, hydro and water. The overall cost of the project is estimated to be $10 to 12 million.

From the initial meetings, over 200 surveys were returned and many of the people interested in this type of housing are in the 75-90 year range, “In fact”, said Duhoux, “We had eight or nine people who were over 90 expressing interest.”

The Manitoba Housing application deadline is the end of May.