Discussion on what to do with the St. Elizabeth convent has been going on ever since the building was sold to the City of Humboldt in 2014.
The Elizabeth’s Place Committee is now closer than ever to turning the structure into The Elizabeth, a low-income assisted living housing complex for seniors.
Sept. 15 saw the designs available to the public at a public tea and meeting and the St. Augustine Hall was packed with interested people.
The building has a lot of potential, said Project Manager, Tyler Stewart with Stewart Properties and the committee and Stewart have lofty goals for the Elizabeth, including meal service, laundry service, an in house daycare, theatre/worship space, recreation area, bistro bar, salon/barber, and landscaped garden.
It is the perfect building for this type of project, says Stewart, who commonly deals with dilapidated buildings that are falling down. Stewart was awed by the structural integrity of the building and all that can be done with it.
You would expect people to still be living in there, he says.
Agnus Pratchler spoke on behalf of the committee about what it has taken to get to this point in the planning process.
Getting the project off the ground, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which was instrumental in getting Stewart Properties on board, the Saskatchewan Housing Authority, and the Minister of Health were essential in pushing the project forward, says Pratchler.
The project itself is not all about providing assisted living for seniors but an overall better quality of life.
The committee has been receiving much support from the community and Pratchler says they already have young people willing to keep the project going.
“The people of Humboldt are very supportive. Once we’re done, this movement that this committee has started will not stop.”
Those who need assisted living are not exactly people who have higher healthcare needs or assistance but those who need a higher quality of life, says Pratchler.
“Just because you don’t need healthcare, that doesn’t mean you don’t need food, activity, recreation, and brain motivation. This movement is going to move through town.”
With these goals comes a hefty price tag with a renovation budget of $3.6 million and $400,000 to pay down the loan to value.
Stewart was quick to point out during his speech that they will work closely with the Saskatchewan Housing Authority to ensure rental prices will always be affordable to low income seniors and as a designated low income housing option, Stewart Properties will be mandated by the government to keep rental prices in a low income zone. Any increases will be done by a steering committee, says Stewart.
Thirty-nine low income units will include some that are studio bachelor and 2 bedroom units, and 13 assisted living units will give seniors living another option for their later years.
Prices will tentatively range from $1350-$1750 and will include meals and utilities.
