"We're not giving up."

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"We're not giving up." - Lukin

Details: Published on Thursday, October 30, 2014

By Kate Jackman Atkinson

The Neepawa Banner

The redevelopment of the former East View Lodge site in Neepawa was dealt a blow last week when the project’s request for provincial funding was turned down.

The proposal to build 44 units of mixed affordable and market rent 55+ seniors housing was put forward by the Neepawa Area Development Corporation (NADCO) and the Neepawa Kinsmen Senior Citizens Housing Board.

Last week, the provincial government announced the five recipients of funding for the development of seniors’ housing in the province. In total, there was $9.2 million available through Manitoba Housing and 27 projects applied for funding. As of press deadline, the list of successful applicants hadn’t been released.

“We are very disappointed in the decision,” said Grant Lukin, chair of the Neepawa Kinsmen Senior Citizens Housing Board.

NADCO spent close to a year preparing the 100-page document that was submitted to the province and the Kinsmen became involved about six months ago, when they came to the table with $1.6 million in funding for the project as well as experience in the operation of seniors’ residences. The proposed project was budgeted to cost about $11.7 million and the proponents were seeking $2 million in provincial funding.

At this point, NADCO chair Wayne Hildebrand said they haven’t yet been given any indication as to why their application was unsuccessful. However, at the end of October, they were going to meet with Manitoba Housing for some additional information as well as feedback about the project’s strengths and weaknesses. But with so many projects competing for a small pool of funding, both Lukin and Hildebrand said that the competition was tough.

With an election looming, it’s unlikely that another round of Manitoba Housing funding will be available for the next couple of years.

Despite the set-back, the group is still committed to building seniors’ housing at the site. “We are in a progressive community and we have other ideas to develop the East View Lodge site without government assistance,” said Lukin. He said that they will likely look at a phased project that would be more manageable financially. They will also be looking for feedback from the community, which has been strongly supportive of the project from the start.

Hildebrand said that the development of seniors’ housing, especially housing that can be transitioned into assisted living, remains a priority for NADCO and the community. “The need and the demand are there,” he said.

Lukin expressed gratitude to the community as they have been developing the project. “Thank you to the community for their support and tolerance. Don’t give up on us, we’re not giving up,” he said.