The Manitoba government is examining the possibility of opening another publicly owned seniors apartment complex on Hemlock Drive.
Though nothing is firm, the province says it will look into the feasibility of converting 4 Hemlock Drive – an abandoned public housing unit once open to tenants of all ages – to seniors housing.
The Reminder learned of the concept when asking the province about its still-unrealized plan to build a new public housing complex in Flin Flon.
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The complex was to replace the 14 suites lost in 2012 when 4 Hemlock was vacated due to moisture problems and slated for demolition.
A government spokesperson had no clear answers as to the status of the new public housing units, saying the province is
“considering alternatives for providing new family housing in the North as part of a larger strategy to create new affordable and social housing units across the province.”
Added the spokesperson: “In the meantime, we will be looking at the feasibility of converting the 4 Hemlock site in Flin Flon to seniors housing.”
When 4 Hemlock was abandoned, the province had determined it made more sense to build a new facility rather than repair the complex.
The province had hoped to begin construction on a new facility in the fall of 2013, but that time frame passed with no construction or finalized plan.
The 4 Hemlock complex neighbours the seniors apartments at 2 Hemlock Drive, also owned by the province.
Both Hemlock complexes opened in 1977.
