— Plan is for occupancy to start next fall —
(OSOYOOS TIMES — Dec. 27, 2006) —
The developers planning a major seniors complex on the site of the current Osoyoos Elks Hall on Highway 97 say they hope the first stage of their facility will be ready for occupancy sometime next fall.
Pat Frewer, President of Seniorhome, one of the three companies that have purchased the Elks' land, told the Osoyoos Times last week that his group has already filed a preliminary site plan with the Town of Osoyoos Planning Department, which shows where they want to build a smaller new Elks clubhouse, a set of retirement townhouses, and an eventual assisted-living congregate housing facility.
Frewer said his group is now in the process of getting our ducks in a row, and are preparing a covenant on the land title that will ensure they build a six-metre-high berm to serve as a buffer between the new housing complex and adjacent fruit orchards.
They also plan to meet with the provincial Ministry of Transportation on a road access plan, including possible entry and exit from 62nd Avenue.
We hope to be under construction next summer on the townhouses and new Elks' clubhouse, Frewer said.
He added he would like to see the Elks in their new clubhouse and people moving into the first part of the townhouse development by fall 2007.
The Elks Club voted early in 2006 to sell the four-acre property because upkeep, taxes and utlities were costing too much. In November the site was sold to the developers' group led by Frewer.
The existing Elks Hall, highly used by the community for large gatherings, won't be torn down until the new Elks clubhouse is ready for occupancy by the club.
Frewer says the new development will be a campus of care for seniors, which will include housing and support services. Seniorcare is a Lower Mainland company that provides a number of seniors housing-related services including project management for property developers.
Frewer adds the Elks site project won't duplicate the services to be offered by the Mariposa residential-care and assisted living facility proposed for Osoyoos.
While the Mariposa will consist mostly of beds and units provided to Interior Health, the Seniorhome project will be totally private, with units for purchase and rent by individuals.
After Phases 1 and 2 “ the townhouses and the new Elks clubhouse “ plans call for construction of an assisted-living apartment building, where residents have their own suites but also have a range of services such as meals, housekeeping, social activities and transportation.
