If council is serious about seniors’ housing, research should be done first

Editor:

There is no disputing that Creemore is in need of quality seniors housing. But let’s ask a few questions and try to look at the proposed development on Caroline Street East for what it really is.

The proponents are seeking to build a three-storey, 24-unit commercial apartment building on land that has long been set aside for the expansion of the Creemore branch of the Clearview Public Library. They say their intention is to “market” the apartments to seniors, and we suspect that wording is very carefully chosen. Should not enough seniors respond to that marketing, is there a mechanism available to prevent other tenants from moving in? Should the proponents one day sell the building, which is inevitable at some point down the road, is it possible that any honourable intention of limiting renters to those over age 65 will be forgotten?

What we’re really looking at is a 24-unit apartment building that could feasibly house upwards of 50 people on a quiet residential block, currently inhabited by less than 20 people in seven houses.

The municipally owned land in question is presently zoned institutional and made up of parts of three lots. Neighbours have long understood the possibility that it could one day be divided into two single-family residential-zoned lots, with a third being reserved for library expansion. Now they are faced with an entirely different eventuality. The proponents have requested that Clearview consolidate the property into one lot before declaring the land surplus and putting it on the open market. If this is done, the township will be giving tacit approval to the proponent’s plan, prior to any opportunity for public input that would only come during the rezoning process (necessary to change the institutional zoning to institutional-residential or multi-residential). Combining the lots in this way would eliminate the possibility of any interest in the land for the purpose of building single-family homes.

The mock-up of the development that appeared on the front page of The Creemore Echo is deceiving; the site plan included in the proponent’s presentation to council shows the apartment building oriented from north to south and situated on the western portion of the land in question, butted right up against the library and the Creemore Log Cabin.

We understand that the Clearview Public Library Board has already expressed concern about the proposal.

Their facility is currently at capacity, with a large development already approved for the east side of town that would necessitate the expansion of the existing building. Giving the nod to this “seniors’ housing” plan would make that impossible, and would result in an apartment building that towers over the existing library and the adjoining log cabin and Grandmother’s Garden, blocking sunlight and forever damaging visitors’ and residents’ enjoyment of these cultural municipal properties.

None of the neighbours whose properties surround the proposed development have been contacted by the proponents.

None of them are in support of the consolidation and sale of the properties or the erection of a 24-unit commercial apartment building in the middle of their neighbourhood.

If council is serious about bringing quality seniors’ housing to this community, research should be done first.

A developer could be found who has a history of building such facilities. The proponents of this plan have said there are other suitable properties in Creemore.

The former school property on Caroline Street West is one. The Gordon property between Mill and Collingwood Streets is another. Both are larger than the Caroline Street East site and neither consists of land already set aside for a valuable community use.

Brad Holden and Nandi Ewing,

Creemore.