The city is looking for developers interested in building the Aging in Place community downtown where Willow Square was.
It’s issuing a Request for Expressions of Interest today to go hand-in-hand with National Seniors Day.
It’s inviting parties to express their interest and qualifications for the design, finance, build, operation and maintenance of the community on the corner of Franklin and Hospital Streets.
The downtown redevelopment’s executive director Ron Taylor says the facility isn’t just about housing seniors who are already here.
“We also need to respond to what we’re hearing, not only from the senior’s community but from families who would consider locating here,” he continues, “if there was accomodation and facilities and services for their parents. We heard that a lot in our consultations.”
He says a seniors home is important to the overall plan for the city centre.
“Great communities and the redevelopment of inner-city communities are often led by young people…youth, and seniors,” he adds, “for that reason, it’s important to have a full range of people living in the community.”
He says seniors will play a big part in the new downtown.
“As people age, they don’t stop being interested in being mobile, going to sporting events, cultural events,” he says, “you know, for that reason, being in the city centre, where much of that activity is being clustered, was very important to our seniors, they didn’t want to be isolated in an acute care facility.”
In 2012 the city hosted engagements with seniors and have come up with some guiding principals.
They include affordable properties and services, an environmentally sustainable and economical design, and safe.
The city wants it to be encourgae social interaction with options for common areas, recreation, education, shopping and programming.
It’s asking for it to embrace cultural diversity, be accessible to everyone, and meet the long term health care needs of all residents.
Subject to council approval, a Request for Proposal process will follow, to select a developer/operator.
The city is still waiting for the federal government to release the land to the province, who will then releasae it to the city.
HEAR Reporter Tyler King’s full interview with Ron Taylor
[audio:http://pmd.country933.com/audio/ferne-news/rontaylor-aginginplace.mp3]October 1st, 2013
