CORNER BROOK Mary Follett is thinking ahead and planning for her future.
The Corner Brook woman is one of 70 seniors who have put their names on the list of potential tenants for the new Parkview Apartments being constructed in the annex area of First United Church.
At 85, Follett said she has to prepare for a time when she can’t live in her own home anymore.
“If I need it, it’s there for me,” said Follett, a 70-year member of the First United Church congregation. “I think it’s a wonderful idea ... I think it’s needed.”
Construction of the nine, two-bedroom units, and one accessible single unit for seniors, started in May and the official funding announcement took place at the church on Friday.
The project will cost just over $2 million. Of that, the federal and provincial governments are contributing a combined investment of more than $1.3 million through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Affordable Housing Agreement.
The federal government will contribute $649,000 through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the province $664,000 through the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC).
“This investment will make a lasting and valuable contribution to the City of Corner Brook in helping to provide more affordable housing for seniors,” said Tom Hedderson, the minister responsible for the NLHC.
Matt Churchill is the president of Parkview Apartments Inc., the non-profit corporation set up by First United Church to develop and administer the project.
He said the church looked at many options to address issues with its aging facility from tearing the annex down and making a parking lot, to tearing everything down and building a new modern church.
Then the group decided to look at getting in the realm of housing.
Revenue generated from the apartments will go to cover maintenance and to pay the mortgage the corporation has on the facility.
The three-storey facility will also contain common areas for residents, general office space, meeting rooms, accessible washrooms and an elevator.
It is scheduled to open in spring 2013.
CORNER BROOK Mary Follett is thinking ahead and planning for her future.
The Corner Brook woman is one of 70 seniors who have put their names on the list of potential tenants for the new Parkview Apartments being constructed in the annex area of First United Church.
At 85, Follett said she has to prepare for a time when she can’t live in her own home anymore.
“If I need it, it’s there for me,” said Follett, a 70-year member of the First United Church congregation. “I think it’s a wonderful idea ... I think it’s needed.”
Construction of the nine, two-bedroom units, and one accessible single unit for seniors, started in May and the official funding announcement took place at the church on Friday.
The project will cost just over $2 million. Of that, the federal and provincial governments are contributing a combined investment of more than $1.3 million through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Affordable Housing Agreement.
The federal government will contribute $649,000 through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the province $664,000 through the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC).
“This investment will make a lasting and valuable contribution to the City of Corner Brook in helping to provide more affordable housing for seniors,” said Tom Hedderson, the minister responsible for the NLHC.
Matt Churchill is the president of Parkview Apartments Inc., the non-profit corporation set up by First United Church to develop and administer the project.
He said the church looked at many options to address issues with its aging facility from tearing the annex down and making a parking lot, to tearing everything down and building a new modern church.
Then the group decided to look at getting in the realm of housing.
Revenue generated from the apartments will go to cover maintenance and to pay the mortgage the corporation has on the facility.
The three-storey facility will also contain common areas for residents, general office space, meeting rooms, accessible washrooms and an elevator.
It is scheduled to open in spring 2013.
