HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-12-23, Page 11Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - Page 11
Housing unit figures may not be adding up
Cheryl Heath
sun media
It is beginning to look a lot like an
expensive proposal.
Yet, Huron County officials are prepared to
further debate a proposed 30 -unit county -run
housing complex, which would be located
on county property near the Huronview
facility south of Clinton.
Consultant Allan Avis, who came out
to the county's Dec. 16 committee -of -the -
whole session to outline the project, notes
the original goal was to create a plan that
would see each unit constructed at a cost
of $120,000 each since provincial funding
would cover it.
However, says Avis, preliminary figures
indicate that a 31 -unit building built to
today's rigorous guidelines would cost
$172,000 per unit.
Avis notes. several options were reviewed
before the draft plan was put in place and a
number of the original proposals, including
building a single -storey building on the
northwest portion of the county property,
were changed for a variety of reasons - one of
which is the Ausable Bayfield Conservation
Authority's regulations on development near
waterways.
Instead, says Avis, the new proposal calls
for a three-storey building, replete with one
and two-bedroom units designed for seniors
and the physically challenged, that would be
located on a parcel of land to the south of
Huronview.
"We've looked at this project to be as
inclusive as possible," says Avis, noting the
ultimate goal is to apply for Canada-Ontiaro
Affordable Housing Program funding in
order to make it happen.
However, he notes, the money issue put
the kibosh on proposed extras.
And, he says, even with the pared down
proposal, "I don't think we're going to hit
$120,000 (per unit)."
Coun. Dave Johnston (Bluewater) was
among the first to question the feasibility
of a project that could end up costing the
county a minimum of $1.307 million just to
build it.
After learning rents on the apartments
would come in at $462 for one bedrooms
and nearly $600 for two-bedroom units,
several councillors wondered if the county
could recoup its investment~
Coun. Ken Oke (South Huron), who
originally endorsed looking into the
possibility of building a new county -run site,
says he was initially under the impression
that the county would profit, if only slightly,
from it.
"I was extremely disappointed," says Oke
in reviewing the numbers.
"My dream was to have enough money left
over to do some of the stuff we call green,"
he says. "This could be a money pit ... I think
we should get some professional help."
Coun. John Bezaire (Central Huron),.
however, says the preliminary figures aren't
that shocking.
"We're not here to make a profit," he
says, noting one of the county's mandates
is to ensure there is available housing for
the senior population and the physically
challenged.
"If there's a need, we should act," he says.
Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Huron East)
says the preliminary figures are cause for
alarm.
"This will be a money pit. There are no
two ways about it," he says, adding the
operating cost of the building wouldn't even
cover the debt.
One alternative option, says MacLellan,
is for the county to consider offering up a
one-time $1-millin grant for construction of
the facility, which was an idea supported by
Bezaire.
Meanwhile, Coun. Deb Shewfelt
(Goderich), argues the county owes it to its
senior population to offer affordable housing
since there are 119 people currently on a
waiting list.
"The question is do you want to
accommodate retired ratepayers or forget
bout them?" says Shewfelt.
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While county treasurer Dave Carey notes
preliminary indicators suggest the project
would recoup $83,000 from rental income,
cost $140,000 to operate and cost $133,000
in deprecation expenses over 40 years for
a $90,000 annual year loss, Bezaire argues
that expense should instead be looked at as a
cost to operate given everything the county
does is "at a cost not a loss."
Social services administrator Dave
Overboe acknowledges that, "If I were in
a voting position, I would not vote on this
particular presentation."
Still, he asked county councillors for more
time to look at other options.
Ultimately, the COW agreed to give
county staff and an ad-hoc committee more
time to review the project and to provide
an updated report at county council's Jan. 6
session.
Coun. Joseph Seili (Huron East) warns that
such projects ultimately hurt the ratepayers
since the county's tax base is already too
high.
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