Alliston Herald

Essa Mayor David Guergis addresses a group of seniors, praising the federal and provincial governments for investing $3.4 million into an affordable...
Matthew Talbot

Dino Melchoir chats with senior Eileen Lee about a new affordable housing complex off Mill Street in Angus after a $3.4-million government-funding...
Matthew Talbot

Affordable housing for seniors announced in Angus

BY Matthew Talbot, Staff January 20, 2010 17:01

Provincial and federal funding of more than $3.4 million for a new affordable housing apartment complex for low-income seniors was announced in Angus yesterday (Tuesday).

Dino Melchoir, head of the newly christened Essa Lifestyles Residence development project, predicted the building would be open to seniors by the end of the year.

He said his team was "ready to put the shovel in the ground very soon."

Essa Mayor David Guergis praised the government contributions, calling Tuesday a "tremendous day for seniors and the community."

"I have to commend both levels of government because we have to invest in seniors," he told an audience of seniors from the township's seniors' exercise and walking club at a press conference at the Angus Arena Tuesday.

The structure, a three-storey apartment complex off Mill Street on Margaret Street (directly east of Massey Street), will house 10 two-bedroom units and 20 one-bedroom units.

While Michael McKnight from MCL Architects - the firm that designed the building - couldn't estimate the square footage of the rooms, he said they were "suite style" spaces.

MCL Architects is working on a parallel affordable housing structure for seniors in Toronto and has designed several Alliston commerce spaces.

Eileen Lee has lived in Angus for 60 years and she said there is lots of interest in affordable housing among seniors she knows, however she owns land she isn't keen to give up.

According to John Connell from Simcoe County's housing department, seniors can expect to pay 70 per cent of the area's average market rent for 20 years.

After that, rent rates are up to the proponent, which is currently Melchoir.

Currently single bedroom apartments go for an average of $821 and two-bedroom apartments go for $960 in Barrie, the market that Essa rents are generally based on, Connell said.

Seniors will pay about $574 for a single and $672 for a two-bedroom at the new complex.

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