The Manitoba government has rejected funding that would have turned the former Flin Flon Hotel into a much-needed seniors’ housing complex.
A disappointed Mayor George Fontaine, who had been privy to details of the proposal, made the announcement Tuesday.
“The proponent for turning the Flin Flon Hotel into senior housing was rejected last week – rejected and dejected, I guess I would say,” said Fontaine, who did not name the proponent.
Fontaine said he himself felt there had been “a pretty good plan” to open 21 housing units in the long-vacant downtown building.
“So now we know that’s not going to happen,” he added, speaking at a mayoral candidates’ forum at city hall.
A provincial spokesperson did not explain why the hotel proposal was turned down, but said all applications “are evaluated based on their strength, appropriateness and needs of the community.”
Earlier this year, the province received 27 funding proposals for seniors’ and cooperative housing projects across Manitoba, selecting five to receive support, the spokesperson said.
Funding was available for up to $65,000 per unit in southern Manitoba and as much as $75,000 a unit in northern Manitoba.
The development of 21 units at the former hotel would have translated into as much as
$1.58 million in provincial aid.
Applicants behind all 27 proposed housing projects received letters last week informing them whether they had been approved or denied.
The spokesperson said the province is explaining to unsuccessful applicants why their project was turned down and what they can do to improve their chances if they seek funding again.
A meeting to discuss the Flin Flon Hotel project has been scheduled for next week between provincial staff and the applicants, the spokesperson added.
Clara Quinn, a Flin Flon retiree, said she hears a lot of
talk among seniors about the lack of age-appropriate accommodations in the community.
While she said there probably are some seniors who would like living downtown, she would personally prefer an area like Creekside Drive.
Quinn and her husband are enjoying good health, so they haven’t yet had to consider leaving their residence at the Green Street apartments.
“But if we did, there’s no place to move to,” she said. “And it’s not until you need that kind of facility that you realize there really isn’t [one with space available].”
The idea of seniors housing at the former Flin Flon Hotel dates back to at least early 2013 when area resident Jane Robillard suggested the concept to city council.
“The old Flin Flon Hotel seems like a perfect place for senior units, both single and doubles,” she wrote in a letter to council. “It is within walking distance of the clinic, hospital, pharmacy and grocery store. There is room for a small restaurant and some other businesses on the ground floor. It just seems a shame to see that building sit and deteriorate on Main Street.”
The former hotel has sat empty since its closure in 1999, despite multiple false rumours of an imminent reopening.
It is privately owned, so neither the city nor any other level of government can independently determine what becomes of the building.
Flin Flon’s most recent seniors complex, Evergreen Manor near the Aqua Centre, opened in 2008 through a partnership between the city, the province and a developer.
The NDP rejected a 2012 proposal for another seniors housing complex overlooking Ross Lake.
In addressing the public on Tuesday, Fontaine said the province has told him that 4 Hemlock Drive, an abandoned family housing complex owned by the government, will be converted into seniors housing.
While the province has publicly said it is considering that idea, no formal announcement has been made.
Fontaine said even a project that adds 15 or 20 units would not meet demand for seniors housing, as there are at least 50-some people on the waiting list.
The Reminder was unable to reach the owner of the former Flin Flon Hotel for comment.
