New foundation plans to build seniors' apartments in Creemore

Plans are in the works to build seniors’ apartments in Creemore.

The newly formed St. John’s Creemore Senior Citizens Foundation is leading the charge with the hope of building 14 independent living apartments for seniors on two Francis Street lots, behind St. John’s United Church.

The foundation’s board is made up of four directors from the church and Wendy Schellenberg.

“This is a new initiative because there is a need for independent seniors’ apartments here,” said Schellenberg adding that as it is now, seniors have to leave the community when they no longer want to stay in their houses but aren’t ready for a retirement home.    

“Wendy has experience running seniors’ housing. She has initiated the project,” said director Lynn Bell. “This is Wendy’s vision and she has the rest of us going on this.”

Schellenberg worked for 16 years as the administrator for the Mount Albert United Church Senior Citizens Foundation’s housing project.

She said housing was built by the church years ago to accommodate the widows of farmers who had no pension and grew from there.

“It’s an amazing accomplishment to see how the seniors come together to be a community,” said Schellenberg.

“There is a need for this,” she said. “Every community should have a place like this.”

The plan, very much in the early stages, is to build 14 rental units in a two-storey building that will be designed to fit the village’s character. The one- and two-bedroom units would likely range in size from 780-1,000 square feet.

The community is invited to come to an information session June 2 to hear more about the project and provide feedback.

The information session will be held at 7 p.m. at Station on the Green on Tuesday, June 2. Refreshments will be served.