CALEB NICKERSON
SHAWVILLE May 21, 2019
On May 21, members of the Villa James Shaw Committee and the public got the first look at what the planned seniors’ complex would look like.
The group was joined by architect Lino Alves, team leader Iza Godbout and project manager Michel Gagnon, who filled the audience in on the proposed specifications and took their input as well.
Prior to the briefing on the building plan, the board gave an update on the group’s finances and the current state of the project. The group recently had a geotechnical survey on the property, and discussed the possibility of different grants to pay for upcoming expenses without dipping into their bank account.
Speaking after the meeting, President Albert Armstrong explained that the project is financed with the help of the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and the next step for the board will be taking the input from the meeting and deciding on a design by the end of the month.
“We had some pretty good suggestions,” he said. “We wanted to make sure that the public have input too.”
From there, the project manager will be able to come up with an accurate budget the building, which will give the group a target for the down payment and other costs. Armstrong said that once they had an accurate picture of the price, they would ramp up their fundraising for the home stretch. “We don’t think that’s a big problem, once people see the building and what it’s all going to be about,” he said.
The drawings of the building show it set back from rue Centre, with parking lots on either side. The building itself is three stories and features huge glass walls and terraces. The complex will have 50 units, which will be a mix of studios and one-bedrooms. There will be an elevator at each end of the U-shaped building.
At the meeting, Godbout explained to the audience that at this stage it was only on the structure itself, and decisions about things like meal plans or furnishings would be decided at a later date.
Each room will have a small kitchenette to make things like toast or tea, but there will be a cafeteria where meals are served throughout the day. At the meeting, committee member Chris Judd noted that the average age of residents at similar homes they had visited during their research was 83-years-old. A portion of the rooms will be available on a short-term basis for respite patients or visitors.
The audience was strongly in favour of the planners keeping balconies in the design, as it was noted that they had considered cutting them and investing the savings elsewhere. There was also discussion about how the communal areas could be laid out.
Armstrong said that the group’s next big fundraiser would be on June 29.
05.29villajamesshaw
