Recognizing the need for seniors housing, North Bay developer and businessman Jim Kolios transformed a vacant school into a multi-million dollar affordable housing complex for seniors.
On Friday a number of elected officials and community partners gathered at the former Marshall Park Elementary school in the West Ferris area of North Bay, for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open Marshall Park Living.
“It took just over a year, and our quote is anywhere from $9 million to $10 million to do all the reno’s. These are senior apartments. Everything I have done is toward's the seniors, the accessibility, the quietness. This entire building is for seniors, 55 and up,” said Kolios.
Both the federal and provincial governments invested just over $3 million toward the creation of 42 affordable housing units, comprised of a mixture of bachelor and one and two bedroom fully accessible units, and another 18 two bedroom apartments.
In addition, Kolios added 14 market value rental units, for a total of 56 apartments.
It was the beauty and history of the former school, along with the size of the building and outdoor space, which influenced his decision to create an affordable housing complex for seniors.
He expects to be at 100 per cent occupancy by January.
“We have about 12 two bedroom apartments left. We don’t have any one bedroom or bachelor units left.”
Ontario Minister of Finance and Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli called the project a modern approach to how social structures are coming together.
“This is a true example of the best possible reuse of a former school. It has limited the impact of development on our environment. It is on a street that already has services, without adding any burden to the municipality. It took a piece of property and made it into something even more vibrant, and we call that infilling, and this is one of the best examples of an infilling project.”
Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota stressed the need for access to safe, affordable and stable housing for all Canadians.
Rota said the riding could benefit from the federal government’s 10 year, $40 billion dollar National Housing Strategy unveiled last year.
“We have already started rolling out key parts of the Canadian Housing Strategy, and I’m excited to say what’s been announced so far, is just the beginning. So all of you who are even thinking of putting an application in, get on to it. There’s lots of money for projects coming up, and we’d like to see it come to this riding.”
District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board chair Mark King says the project meets the cities changing demographics as it moves toward an older population.
“We don’t want these buildings sitting vacant. We want them repurposed for a use that makes sense in the community. DNSSAB has well over 600 units in the region, and a lot of those units are three bedroom plus units, and the demand is not there,” said King.
“We know right now what’s needed are one and two bedroom units, so this absolutely hits the mark. This is by far probably the best project I’ve seen in a long, long time.”
Thelma D’Antonio has been living in her apartment since July.
“I’m quite comfortable with the layout. Everything seems to be spacious, the rooms are spacious and I like the open concept with the kitchen and living room combined. There’s lots of room to move around, and if I have company, I have an extra room for them to stay.”
Janet Comerford moved in the following month.
“It feels good being here. I moved out of a townhouse. It’s bigger than I thought, and more comfortable than I thought. I lived in the Ferris area most of my life, so I liked the location, and I don’t have to worry about anything in the building. It’s all looked after. I looked around at other apartments after I sold my house, and I liked the idea that it’s new and affordable,” she stressed.
Among its many amenities, tenants have access to a library, common area, outdoor space to grow vegetables, and a park-like backyard with fire pit.
Kolios hopes the project will encourage other developers to take on similar builds.
