The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Rotary Club of Flin Flon plans to proceed with a new seniors housing complex now that the Manitoba government has committed $1 million to the project. The province's Affordable Housing Initiative will contribute that amount to the proposed three-storey, 38-suite facility to be built at the Rotary Court site beginning as soon as August. "A couple of years ago, we did some research and found there was a definite need for seniors' housing," said Ted Hewitt, the club's president-elect. "We feel very confident there is a niche in this town that needs this." The total price tag of the facility is an estimated $4.5 million, with the province chipping in at least $1 million and the Rotary Club providing $600,000 in cash and land. The balance would be financed on a 30-year mortgage. While the Rotarians are pleased to receive the seven-figure provincial grant, the amount falls $500,000 short of what they had applied for. Club representatives are scheduled to meet with government officials on June 11 to negotiate potential further funding. "We're very optimistic," said Nazir Ahmad, chairman of the housing project. If the province caps its contribution at $1 million, Rotary President George Fontaine believes changes may have to be made to the project. See 'Different' P.# Con't from P.# "If we don't get the full amount, we're going to see what we can build with the amount we're given," said Fontaine. "It may change the nature of the suites and it may change the number of the suites, but we still plan on building some suites. "When someone says that you have a million dollars coming your way . . . you have to see how you can make it work." Ahmad said the best case scenario would see construction begin this August and completed six to eight months later. The plan is to have 38 affordable suites consisting of 14 two-bedroom suites and 24 one-bedroom suites. The complex would be built alongside Bracken Street amid the five apartment buildings that make up Rotary Court, another seniors' housing initiative of the Rotarians. The demand for more seniors' housing in Flin Flon is evident. Without even advertising, the Rotary Club has heard from 35 seniors asking that their names be placed on the waiting list for a room in the new facility. Contributing to the shortage is the fact that the Hemlock Drive senior's apartments have yet to be rebuilt nearly two years after being destroyed by fire. "There are seniors that are in housing all over this community, tucked away in places where we certainly could provide better housing," said Fontaine. The club president said seniors are an important group for the Rotarians and that they look forward to the fruition of the project. "The Rotary Club has gone through a whole lot of discussion and soul searching as to whether they wanted to get into a project this large, and they're prepared to do it," he said. "Now we have to find out what the final arrangements will be with the government." The club plans to share with the community further details of the project as they become available. As for the Hemlock Drive seniors' apartments, the Manitoba Housing Authority announced earlier this year that construction would hopefully begin this summer on a facility to replace the complex. In June 2002, the south section of the Hemlock facility was severely damaged by flames and subsequently demolished. The blaze did not spread to the north section, but that portion of the building was boarded up after sustaining water and smoke damage.
