Grey County has hired a consulting company to look at uses for land the County purchased in Durham as part of its rebuild of Rockwood Terrace Long-term Care Home in Durham.
SHS Consulting will look at the market conditions as well as housing needs, and investigate build options that might complement Rockwood Terrace. Options could include a ‘Campus of Care’ model, non-profit housing or private housing.
The land is located directly south of the existing home and the County says it may be suitable for a Campus of Care, non-profit housing, rental housing, or a combination of the models. A Campus of Care model includes a blend of housing and supportive services, that could include senior’s apartments, to assisted living, long-term care and other services.
The County says public engagement during the assessment will help determine local need, trends, preferences and more.
Grey County has received preliminary approval from the province to redevelop Rockwood Terrace from a 100-bed home to a 128-bed home. Redevelopment needs to be completed by 2025 to meet Ministry requirements. The completed assessment will be presented to Grey County Council in the spring of 2021.
County Warden Paul McQueen says,”Recent studies show we have a shortage of affordable housing in Grey County. This land in Durham has a lot of potential to create more options for those who need a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Grey County Warden Paul McQueen. “As we complete the assessment, we hope we can find synergies for the property that will support both our long-term care and housing needs.”
The first phase of the consultant’s study will be a market assessment for seniors housing in the area.
A staff report says the project was estimated to cost $75,000. Based on a review of consultants, staff have retained SHS Consulting for a total project cost of $57,500 plus HST which includes an architect subconsultant (Salter Pilon) to prepare a concept plan and to assist with the costings of the options.
McQueen says, “This study will give County Council the information we need to make the best decision for this property. Once we understand our options and their costs, we as a Council can decide the best path forward for our community.”