The group behind a push for a seniors’ housing complex in Bragg Creek is hopeful it will be able to break ground on the project in the spring.
Sharon Bayer, Bragg Creek Seniors Housing Society member, said the demand is high for seniors housing in the region and she expects the facility will fill quickly once it’s finished.
“I’ve had way more requests than we have room for units,” she said.
The building would include 16 one-bedroom units, between 950 square feet and 1,100 square feet in size. The facility would be rated as residential living level one, the lowest level of supported living for people who can largely look after themselves. Bayer said the society is finalizing details for the plan with the primary care network.
“These seniors are going to have access to services, but they can live independently with services provided by external providers,” she said.
Bayer said the facility will have a mixture of rental and life-lease units. There is a range of models, but when someone buys a life-lease unit, they are guaranteed to get what they paid back when they sell the unit, less costs to paint and refurbish the unit.
“It’s a good model because it’s a guaranteed investment, you’re not subject to the vagaries of the market,” said Bayer.
The site is located next to the Bragg Creek Snowbirds Chalet, which will be able to serve as an amenity building for the facility.
There are also plans to build a clinic next to the facility.
Bayer said society members are working on a business model to match what they hope to achieve with the facility and to keep costs down. They are currently talking to lenders about possible financing for the project, she added.
The society was in discussions with the provincial government about receiving funding, but found the provincial rules too onerous for what they planned.
The group is also in discussions with the Rocky View Foundation to come on board as a partner to build and operate the facility.
Rocky View County council has approved redesignation and subdivision of a three-acre site for the facility.
Councillor Rick Butler said the seniors’ housing project is important for the hamlet and the County is supportive of efforts to have the facility built in the hamlet.
“It’s a great project,” he said.
Butler said he is also hopeful the Rocky View Foundation will support the work of the volunteers who have led the project this far and help carry more of the load.
He said the foundation has administrative experience to help the project and the society.
