Huron Expositor, 2006-08-16, Page 2Page 2 August 16, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
News
Study recommends affordable housing
after conducting market research. on .area
From Page 1
Inc., cost both the Hospital Trust
and municipality $2,500.
McLachlan said the study had to
be completed before any further dis-
cussion could go on.
"It had to be done to see if it (a
development) was feasible. And the
study says `yes,' it is feasible," he
said.
"It's called a Planning review and
preliminary demand assessment,"
(LHINs)
that
South West
LOCAL HEALTH INTEGRATION NETWORK .
Your Community. Your Health
Please attend an important community forum and help
shape the future of .your health care.
The Ontario government recently created 14 Local Health Integration Networks
to plan, coordinate and fund local health services. Through the LHINs,
health care decisions will be made based on community needs and priorities so
you and your family receive the care you need, at the right time and in the
right place. -
The South West LHIN is hosting a series of community forums throughout the
South West to share with you our proposed priorities for improvements and listen
to your ideas about health care.
COMMUNITY DATE TIME LOCATION)
Seaforth Tuesday - 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Seaforth Legion
August 22, 2006 123 Main St. S.
Clinton Tuesday 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Clinton Legion
August 22, 2006 95 Kirk St.
Exeter Thursday 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. South Huron Municipal Office
August 24, 2006 322 Main St. S.
St. Marys Tuesday 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. St. Marys Arena &
August 29, 2006 Community Centre
317 James St. S.
Wingham Thursday 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. North Huron Wescast
September 7, 2006 Community Complex
99 Kerr Dr.
Stratford Monday 7:15 - 9:15 p.m. Kiwanis Community Centre
September 18, 2006 111 Lakeside Dr.
Goderich Wednesday 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Columbus Centre
September 20, 2006 390 Parsons Crt.
Listowel Monday 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Knox Presbyterian Church
October 2, 2006 220 Livingstone Ave. N.
Events are also planned with health care providers, Aboriginal, Deaf and Francophone
communities. For more information about the South West LHIN or other forums, please
visit www.southwestlhin.ca; e-mail southwest@lhins.on.ca or call toll free 1-866-294-5446.
Pour ('information en Francais, visitez notre site Web a www.southwestlhin.ca
ci? Ontario
Jeff Heuchert photo
Seaforth Community Hospital Trust chair Ron Lavoie addresses members of
Huron East at a meeting last Friday to discuss the possibility of a development
north of the hospital.
explained Lavoie in an interview
afterwards.
He said that the assessment
included reviewing the land itself
and the population in Seaforth and
surrounding areas, to see if there is
a need for any specific
kind of housing.
"What it indicated is
that there seems to be
a demand for afford-
able housing," Lavoie
said, who later
explained that the
development could be
desirable for both
retired residents and
young families.
"I think it's a good
target area," Lavoie
added, who noted that
both individual hous-
ing and apartment
complexes would still
be considered for the
development.
However, he did note, "Until there
is a product and people are putting
their money into the barrel, we
don't know what the demand is."
He said from a marketable stand-
point, he sees the area as quite good
- thanks to being near a•downtown,
hospital, park and two schools.
Lavoie noted that the report also
commented to the benefit of having
long-term care facilities in town.
"From a hospital point of view, it
certainly aligned itself
with our mandate to
support the hospital,"
he said.
As for a timeline,
Lavoie said the Trust
and municipality is yet
to discuss one, due to
the report being in the
very early stages of the
development.
"Bridges has been in
the planning stages for
quite some time. So a
project like this - I
don't anticipate any-
thing much quicker,"
said Lavoie.
He added that any
financing towards a development
has yet to be discussed between the
Hospital Trust and the municipality.
As for the immediate future, the
Trust will begin seeking out and
discussing possibilities with several
developers.
"It had to be
done to see if it
(a develop-
ment) was fea-
sible. And the
study says
`yes,' it is feasi-
ble,' --
Huron East Clerk -
Administrator Jack
McLachlan