HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-04-10, Page 5TT'S YO1IR Rl1S[WFSS
Times -Advocate, Apt 10.1991 Pape 6
Housing project nearing completion
By Adrian Harte
EXETER - The town could be
getting 35 new landlords this sum-
mer. Although a simplification,
that is essentially how the Exandar-
ea Meadows Cooperative housing
project will be managed.
Each prospective tenant must ap-
ply to become a member of the co-
op, and if accepted, must assume
the responsibiliues of a partner in
the venture. Each member must
participate in committees or help
with landscaping or maintenance.
"This is the closest thing to own-
ing a home you can get," explained
Michelle Robert, who will be act-
ing as the project's interim consul-
tant until a permanent part-time ad-
ministrator is eventually hired.
"They [tenants] don't sign a lease;
they sign an occupancy agree-
ment," said Robert.
Robert and Colleen Montgomery
represent Community Homes of
Southwestern Ontario, the company
hired by the Exeter Co -Op board of
directors to administer the construc-
tion and start-up of the $2.9 million
project.
The Ministry of Housing will be
subsidizing the rents of 60 percent
of the tenants who qualify for
geared -to -income housing. The
rest will be paying full market val-
ue which has been set at $530 a
month for a single bedroom apart-
ment, $590 for a two-bedroom
townhouse, and $650 for a three
bedroom unit.
However, this is not a govern-
ment housing project. A 100 per-
cent mortgage for the $2.9 million
has been assumed by the housing
cooperative.
"There is no government money
in the project," said Montgomery,
who said the co-op will be paying
its first mortgage installment in
September once the units are occu-
pied.
Board of directors member Don
Winters said he expects the project
will have paid off its mortgage
within 15 or 17 years, after which
the rent can be applied to mainte-
nance and a partial repayment can
be made to the minstry for assisting
with rents.
When touring the mud -bound site
on Friday, Winters and Marshall
Dearing both said they were very
pleased with how the project has
turned out, right from the well-
designed single bedroom units to
the three-bedroom townhouses
complete with spacious basement
family rooms. Even though the
Ministry of Housing requires the
units conform to their concept of
"modest" accommodation to quali-
fy for geared -to -income tenancy,
Winters and Dearingsay the board
has done very welto make the
units as impressive as they are
while keeping within those con-
straints.
Winters says he is especially
pleased with the two units designed
for handicapped tenants, and the
community hall complete with its
kitchen facilities.
The units are mixed throughout
the seven "modules" in an effort to
completely integrate the different
groups who have different rental
needs. Winters says the idea is to
avoid "ghettoizing" the project, and
have everyone from singles,
through families, to seniors living
side-by-side.
As for the geared -to -income ten-
ants, not even the board of directors
will know who they are. Only
those who handle the applications
Walkathon for
Children's hospital
EXETER - A first-ever walka-
thon in Exeter for the Children's
Hospital appears to be generating
more interest than its organizers
first dreamed.
A five -mile walk around Exeter
on Sunday April 28 is being spon-
sored by Steve and Audrey Skin-
ner, and even though they had
hoed for between 50 and 100 par-
ticipants, it is already possible more
people than that are planning to
help raise money for Victoria Hos-
pital in London.
Audrey Skinner said that if all
funds are collected in time, she
hopes to present the money on the
Children's Miracle Network Tele-
thon in June in memory of her
daughter Stephanie Lynn who died
of complications after a liver trans-
plant last year.
Stephanie spent nine months of
her 11 -month life at the hospital,
receiving care from several depart-
ments.
"I wanted to do something for the
hospital," said Audrey, adding she
decided on a walkathon because it
is a healthy activity the whole fami-
ly can participate in.
Once she began to tell people of
her plans, enthusiasm built, and
now several businesses around
town and the high school are hand-
ing out sponsor sheets.
Several fundraising projects were
in the works at the time of Stepha-
nie's death, and Audrey sees the en-
thusiasm for the walkathon as an
extension of that spirit.
"I don't think anybody ever for-
got her," she said.
The money will be donated to the
hospital's general fund, mainly be-
cause Stephanie made use of sever-
al departments and Steve and Au-
drey became familiar with many
patients.
"Steve and I felt the whole hospi-
tal could use the money," said Au-
drey. "You get really attached to
those kids because they're there for
a long time."
The walkathon will be hi#hly or-
ganized, complete with registration
at the Lions Youth Centre, check-
ing in on completion of the walk
which will go past Morrison Dam,
and the CWL are even providing
refreshments for the walkers.
Should it rain, a rain date has been
selected for May 5.
"I think we've got it all worked
out. It takes months of planning,"
said Audrey.
If the event proves the success
the Skinners anucipate, then it may
become a regular fundraiser in
years to come.
"It helps to get through these
tough days to do something like
this," said Audrey.
Walkathon - Authy Skinner has high hopes for her April 28 fund-
raiser. __ _
will know.
Once Exandarea Meadows is up
and running, it win achieve near -
autonomy and the board of direc-
tors who formed to create the pro-
ject three years ago will disband.
"We winpear into the
woodwork," saidisappear
Winters of the
seven member board, who include
himself, Dearing, Laurie Dykstra,
Ross Ballantyne, Dwayne Tinney,
Bill Mickle, and Morley Hall.
When asked if the project will be
worth the effort, Dearing didn't hes-
titate to answer.
"Yes...it will prove itself in the
next two years," said Dearing. In
fact, added Winters, there is
enough extra land on the property
to build two more units if needed.
The board decided the co-op con-
cept could be applied to Exeter's
needs when a 1987 study indicated
there were gaps in the town's hous-
ing market. Although several
apeman buildings have been built
to Exeter since then, the need for a
co-op project is still exists, the
board says.
"'There is still a substantial need
for what we're providing," agreed
Mon emery, noting there are still
famines in town who would •
tp
at the chance to get geared -for -
income housing. She pointed out
they would not necessarily be peo-
ple on social assistance.
A public information meeting
will be held next week on April 18
at the town council chambers for
anyone interested in the Exandarea
Meadows project. The meeting
stats at 7 p.m.
The co-op is accepting applica-
tions at the moment, but expect that
interest in the units will pick up
once walkways can be built to the
model apartments. The buildings
aren't expected to be ready for oc-
cupancy until July or August.
'Modest" accommodation - Don inters (left) and Marshall Dearing
inspect one of the new co-op townhouses.
Exeter
Home
arid rif
harden
Show
APRIL 12, 13, 14
FRIDAY 7 P.M. - 10 P.M.
SATURDAY 12 P.M. - 9 P.M.
SUNDAY 12 P.M. - 5 P.M.
At The South Huron
Rec. Centre
Exeter, Ontario
Adults - $2.50
Children 12 yrs and under - Free
when accompanied by an adult
PRESENTED BY THE EXETER OPTIMIST CLUB
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