The seniors' housing complex proposed by Pacific Arbour for Sechelt's waterfront will likely move to downtown Sechelt in an effort to keep the units more affordable.
The move comes after compiling data from more than 180 residents who attended a number of focus groups put on by the development company in January.
"We did those focus groups and what we heard was that there was a demand for a bit more affordable seniors' housing," said Karim Winsor of Pacific Arbour Retirement Communities. "So based on the complexity of the waterfront site and it's a bit more expensive being on the waterfront, we realized that if we built there we wouldn't be able to provide the housing at the rate that the residents were asking for. We decided it's best that we seek out a more affordable location."
That more affordable location must also be close to shops and services for seniors, which is why Pacific Arbour is now trying to find property within downtown Sechelt. But finding a site large enough to accommodate the type of building Pacific Arbour is proposing within the downtown core is proving difficult.
"We're looking for a site that is flat, central and within a block of amenities and about two acres," he said. "As far as I've seen so far it's hard to find a site like that. What we're looking at is potentially doing an assembly. We would probably have to assemble a number of properties in order to do that. So we're just figuring out how that would work right now."
Housing advocate Sue Jackel said she is disappointed the proposal for the waterfront will not come to fruition, but she is glad the company is listening to the community feedback.
"Although I and others would have loved seeing a beautiful piece of property on the waterfront for seniors to live on, if it's going to be that expensive then they can't do it. It's realism," she said.
While Pacific Arbour investigates their options within the District of Sechelt, Jackel is working on educating the potential residents about the options available to them.
"Out of all the thinking and talking about this, it's become pretty important to have what I would call an educated consumer group," said Jackel. "That is seniors themselves understanding what are the housing options that are available in other communities and aren't available here. This is just a discussion and education group and I'm just doing it because I recognize a need."
Her educational series, entitled Seniors Housing Fridays, offers informational sessions at the Sechelt Seniors' Activity Centre from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Each week has a different topic of discussion and the April 1 meeting features a tour of Christenson Village and the Gibsons Garden Inn from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. For more information contact Jackel at 604-885-2348. The series will end on April 15.
