A $100 million senior’s facility is almost ready to begin a new phase.
The Centre of Excellence for Integrated Seniors’ Service was originally announced in 2007. The two-phase project will see 544 beds between a supportive housing building, which is expected to open its doors next fall, and a long-term care home addition to Hogarth Riverside Manor.
St. Jospeh’s Care Group president Tracy Buckler announced Friday that the group has been given approval for a construction manager for the long-term component. Construction is now expected to begin in the spring.
“There’s a lot of work that’s involved in planning and design,” Buckler said Friday. “I think there’s a lot of work that people don’t necessarily see. What people see is when there’s actually digging going on, when there’s construction happening.
“Every step of the way takes an approval and a planning process so it has been a bit delayed absolutely.”
Hiring a construction manager is a step in the right direction Buckler said.
St. Joseph’s Care Group also received approval to tear down the old Sister Margaret Smith Centre behind St. Joseph’s hospital on Algoma Street.
The building will be demolished to make way for a new $50 million mental health rehabilitation centre.
Crews could begin work on the site as early as January. That will mean inconveniences for people going to the hospital for the next couple of years as work continues.
“There’s a lot of challenges in terms of parking and getting people moving in and out of that site we know that it’s going to be a real inconvenience,” Buckler said.
There will be a widened drop off an pick up area at the hospital’s Algoma Street and Camleot Street entrances but parking will have to take place at the city’s nearby parkade.
“It’s progress in one sense, but it will be a little bit frustrating for people to get in and out of our St. Joseph’s hospital site.”
