County commits $1M to advance plan for more seniors’ housing in Hillsburgh

GUELPH – Some of the more than 150 applicants wanting a spot at Meadowview Place seniors’ residence in Hillsburgh have waited 10 years.

They may get a little closer to moving in after Wellington County council committed $1 million for the Township of Erin Non-Profit Housing Corporation to help construct a second building at its 51 Spruce St. property.

That’s Erin’s full share of a $7-million housing fund available to the county’s seven lower-tier municipalities and created using funds from the county’s Continuum of Care project in Aboyne, which was abandoned due to ballooning costs.

The new Spruce Street building would have at least 20 one-bedroom units for seniors 65 and older, with rent around $960 per month – or about 80 per cent of market rate.

Up to 10 of those units could be charged at rates geared to income, with tenants paying around 30% of their income, according to a Town of Erin report.

Councillor Earl Campbell, chair of the county’s finance committee, told council on Sept. 24 the proposal was being moved forward by the committee despite being “in its early stages.”

Erin Mayor Michael Dehn previously said at a July Erin council meeting that the project “addresses a demonstrated need within the community” and would allow seniors to age in town instead of having to leave.

A town report states the funding is not intended to pay for everything; the total capital cost is currently unknown. The report adds the housing corporation intends to seek other funding sources, “which may include federal and provincial housing programs, low-interest financing and community fundraising.”

County funding would be released in two phases.

Early next year, $400,000 would be released for project management, design, engineering, studies and planning approvals.

Erin councillor Bridget Ryan previously balked at spending that much on consulting and project management.

“We are helping facilitate them to get going and then they have to help themselves go further,” Dehn responded at the time.

The remaining $600,000 – $30,000 per unit – would be released once a building permit is secured.

Town approvals for the project must be in place by the end of 2027.

Unspent money will be forfeited back to the county.

Construction is anticipated for 2028, with residents able to move in the following year. The timing is directly tied to Erin’s new wastewater treatment plant and a shift to municipal sewers from septic.

“With the town’s planned transition to municipal wastewater services, the existing septic system will be decommissioned, creating a unique and time-sensitive opportunity to coordinate site servicing and foundation construction while minimizing future costs and disruption,” Erin CAO Rob Adams stated in a report.

Guelph/Eramosa was the first municipality in the county to receive funding, for the expansion of Squires Lodge in Rockwood.