HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-12-30, Page 3News
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The Huron Expositor • December 30, 2009 Page 3
Proposed housing project being seen as not so affordable
Cheryl Heath
It is beginning to look a lot like an
expensive proposal.
Yet, Huron County officials are pre-
pared 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 commit-
tee -of -the -whole session to outline
the project, noted the original goal
was to create a plan that would see
each unit constructed at a cost of
$120,000 each since provincial fund-
ing would cover it.
However, said Avis, preliminary
figures indicate that a 31 -unit build-
ing built to today's rigorous guide-
lines would cost $172,000 per unit.
Avis noted several options were re-
viewed before the draft plan was put
in place and a number of the original
proposals, including building a sin-
gle -storey building on the northwest
portion of the county property, were
changed for a variety of reasons - one
of which is the Ausable Bayfield Con-
servation Authority's regulations on
development near waterways.
Instead, said Avis, the new propos-
al 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," said Avis,
noting the ultimate goal is to ap-
ply for Canada -Ontario Affordable
Housing Program funding in order
to make it happen.
However, he noted, the money is-
sue put the kibosh on proposed ex-
tras.
And, he said, 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 apart-
ments 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, said he was initially under
the impression that the county would
profit, if only slightly, from it.
"I . was extremely disappointed,"
said Oke in reviewing the numbers.
"My dream was to have enough
money left over to do some of the
stuff we call green," he said. "This
could be a money pit ... 'I think we
should get some professional help."
Coun. John Bezaire (Central Hu-
ron), however, said the preliminary
figures aren't that shocking.
"We're not here to make a . profit,"
he said, noting one of the county's
mandate is to ensure there is avail-
able housing for the senior popula-
tion and the physically challenged.
"If there's a need, we should act,"
he said.
Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Huron
East) said the ` preliminary figures
are cause for alarm.
"This will be a money pit. There are
no two ways about it," he said, add-
ing the operating cost of the building
wouldn't even cover the debt.
One alternative option, said Ma-
cLellan, is for the county to consider
offering up a one-time $1 -million
grant for construction of the facil-
ity, which was an idea supported by
Bezaire.
Meanwhile, Coun. Deb Shewfelt
(Goderich), argued the county owes
it to its senior population to offer af-
fordable housing since there are 119
people currently on a waiting list.
- See CLOSURES, Page 8
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