PG City Council supportive of new seniors housing facility

Prince George City Council is supportive of a potential new seniors housing apartment building.

The apartment would be located at 1177 Foothills Boulevard, and would have 127 units for seniors.

Terry Collier of EFG Architects gave a presentation on the potential new development at Monday’s City Council meeting, prior to a public hearing.

“What makes this project unique compared to some of the competitors is that this project focuses on middle class,” Collier said.

“The primary target market is seniors with incomes of $2,100 to $4,500. There’s very limited supportive living properties in Prince George with people of this income.”

According to Collier, rent in the building would be $747.50 to $872.50 for a studio, $997.50 to $1,100 for a one-bedroom suite, and $1,295 to $1,395 for a two-bedroom suite.

Rent is also reduced by $200 if they volunteer 10 hours per month in the building.

Collier added they would be working with Northern Health to work towards what they call ‘cluster care’.

“All that is is the ability to congregate a group of people who need home care services to drive the costs lower,” Collier explained.

“Your home care worker isn’t driving to 40 different homes, they come to one building, and it increases the quality of care and quality of life.”

After Collier wrapped up his presentation, members of the public in the gallery were invited to speak and voice their concerns over the potential building.

“I have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. I had always planned to live in my home as long as a possibly could,” said one of the seniors in attendance.

“I realize the time has come when I’m not going to be able to be there, and I am going to have to sell and move into a facility.”

“We have a real shortage of available properties like this in Prince George, and I would really like the city to consider Mr. Collier’s application.”

Another resident who lives across the street from the potential development spoke out against it during the public hearing.

“My wife and I purchased our home in 2006. It was close to the university where my wife worked, and close to the soccer and hockey facility where our son played, and it was surrounded by a heavily treed green space,” he said.

“The green space was so critical to our wants that prior to purchase we checked to be sure it was protected. Zoning plans at the time assured us that only low density, multi family buildings could be built behind our house, and that a 30 metre-wide strip of green space, consisting of a park, and a hydro right of way would serve as a buffer from that development.”

“Today, my wife and I are faced with the prospect of a massive six-storey apartment building towering over our property. Our strip of green space will not hide the tower, especially in Winter when the leaves fall. Our once peaceful backyard may soon be turned into a fishbowl.”

He also said he had concerns over access to amenities, sunlight, and increased traffic in the area.

“I’m all for elderly accommodations, and there’s no questions that this architect’s great ideas have a need in this town,” he said.

“That being said, for the elderly tenants of the proposed dwelling, it is hard to pick a poorer location.”

Following the public hearing, council was supportive of the new development.

“I know that unfortunately often change does have an impact on people’s live, and I’m sorry for that,” said Councillor Murry Krause.

“But I think the need for seniors housing and the need for more housing of this nature is greater, and many will benefit from it.”

“I think if there is an increase in traffic, which I think it will be minor, I would suspect a large number of these residents, and if they are, not regularly, it will not be during the peak hours of the day,” said Councillor Kyle Sampson.

“You can go down Foothills many to most hours in the day and not be overwhelmed by traffic. Absolutely first thing in the morning, at the end of the day at work, I don’t think this is the type of development that contributes to that type of traffic.”

Other items discussed at the meeting included an update on the Canfor Leisure Pool, which is expected to open in the fall, and policy changes regarding the Mayor’s writing letters of supports for local businesses, non-profits, and elected officials.