Powell River’s capacity for senior housing will increase with a new housing development planned for 2017.
Inclusion Powell River, a community non-profit agency, has partnered with Golden Life Management, a BC company that specializes in building and operating seniors-supported housing projects, to build 75 units of seniors housing next to Powell River General Hospital.
“It’s such a great location we have there,” said Inclusion’s executive director Lilla Tipton.
The planned facility, to be built on a 3.5-acre parcel, will be located on Joyce Avenue between Evangel Church and the pole line. Tipton said its proximity to shopping, Powell River Recreation Complex and bus service makes it ideal for seniors.
While Inclusion has a mandate to assist children and adults with developmental delays, the project will be operated by a jointly owned company and create a revenue stream for the non-profit.
“It’s a good fit for us and will support the agency’s work,” said Tipton.“It does give us long-term sustainability as government dollars become more challenging to access.”
Powell River is in the top 10 communities in Canada for its high proportion of seniors, at just under 23 per cent of total population, according to Statistics Canada’s 2011 census. Powell River’s average median age is 50.6 years old, compared to BC’s 41.9 years old.
Golden Life operates 12 buildings in BC and Alberta. Tipton said she was able to tour the company’s facilities in Calgary and Pincher Creek.
“We think they have the background and experience to make this work,” she said.
According to a 2015 report from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), as baby boomers retire and sell their homes, the Canadian housing market will be pressured to add new seniors-focused housing.
City of Powell River director of planning Thomas Knight said the city is in need of projects that diversify the housing stock.
“We’re missing a couple other types of housing that you can get in larger centres,” said Knight. “We tend to not be as multidimensional when it comes to our housing stock and that provides opportunity for some builders to come in and fill some voids.”
Tipton added that Canada’s aging demographic is an opportunity for the local non-profit to look at establishing other facilities, including outside of Powell River.
Tipton estimated the local housing project will create approximately nine jobs in the community, “which is always a good thing in Powell River,” she said.
Tipton said the facility is expected to be open by the end of 2017.
Inclusion also operates seven group homes for developmentally—delayed adults.
The non-profit is currently preparing to construct a single level, accessible home on Nelson Avenue for four of it clients who currently live in a home on Chilco Avenue.
