With news last week that area seniors will move into the Bow River Seniors’ Lodge in December, a long, long construction phase is coming to a close.
On Thursday (Oct. 26), the lodge was given a ‘total completion’ evaluation, which means the official move-in for 63 residents will take place Dec. 6-8.
“There is still a small deficiency list,” said Bow Valley Regional Housing CAO Ian Wilson, “but last week we got control of the building. We’re now going with the concept of First Christmas at Home.”
In all, it’s been about two years since construction began on the new phase one of Bow Valley Regional Housing’s ‘This Is Home’ project, and the most recent hurdle was that the deficiency correction stage of the project was taking much longer than expected.
“It’s been a source of stress for some people that they’ve been waiting so long,” said Wilson, “but the Province has now said we can have it (the building).
“There’s been a long waiting list to get into this new phase, with some people not wanting to move into the old building.”
To try and ease anxiety levels, said Wilson, residents waiting to move in, and their families, were given regular bulletins as to progress on the lodge. About 90 per cent of those moving in are locals, he said, with about 10 per cent being seniors wanting to move to Canmore to be closer to adult children.
“It’s going to be good to get in this year,” he said. “We’re definitely ready to get the people in. I never doubted it would happen, it was just a matter of patience.
“But that happens with construction projects in general, we’re just happy we’re moving forward.”
The new wing at the Bow River Seniors Lodge will see the 63 new units replace 43 aging rooms. Construction began in spring 2015.
The This Is Home project was initiated to enable more Bow Valley seniors to stay in the community, close to their families, and provide affordable, sustainable housing.
The project includes a new kitchen and dining facility, with all units wheelchair accessible and barrier-free. Each new unit is 380 square feet, with microwave and small refrigerator, washrooms with grab bars and accessible showers and solid floor surfaces. In the old lodge, only half of the residents had access to in-room bathing.
The new, two-storey wing also has a pair of elevators and mechanical rooms on the second floor to avoid damage in possible future flooding.
Total cost of phase one is $13.2 million and a second phase, tagged at between $16 million and $19 million, is slated for a spring 2018 start. Next steps for it include project approval and coordination, as well as creating an agreement with Alberta Health Services to provide added levels of care.
Phase two will see 60 new units built at the lodge for higher-level support services for seniors needing around the clock care, including patients with dementia.
BVRH is a regional service commission that provides social housing and seniors housing in the community.
