Affordable Housing Project - 993 Maxwell Street
On Thursday, July 2, 2009 The Government of Canada and The Government of Ontario announced $5.95 million in funding for the development of new rental housing under the Canada Ontario Affordable Housing Program. The development will be constructed at 1000 London Road, Sarnia. The County of Lambton will fund the remaining $4.9 million necessary to complete the project.
Proposed Project Details
Demolition of former long-term care Home
- Demolition of the former Marshall Gowland Manor long-term care Home, located at 1000 London Road was completed in October, 2009.
- Priestly Demolition Inc. completed the demolition project.
- Pollutech Environmental, a third-party consultant, was hired to conduct air monitoring on the site during demolition to ensure the safe removal of asbestos.
Design & Site Plan
- A request for Proposals for architectural services closed on May 21, 2009.
- Architectural Services are being provided by DGA - David Gilchrist, Architect, Sarnia.
- Mr. Gilchrist met with a number of stakeholders before presenting his design concepts to the Corporation.
- Construction is expected to begin in spring, 2010.
- Maximum building height is 12 metres.
- Quality building materials will be used.
- The design will complement the surrounding neighbourhood building design.
- Balconies and ground floor patios will be a feature of the new building.
- Green space / lawn at the front of the property along London Road will be maintained.
- The landscape will be enhanced by using Carolinian zone species. John DeGroot will provide landscape design consultation.
- Garden plots for use of residents will be included.
- Parking will be established to the rear of the building off Maxwell Street. Parking spaces will be alloted based on 1.5 parking spaces per unit.
- Islands, plantings, shade trees, etc. will be used to minimize 'heat island effects' in the parking lot.
- The architect is working with Sarnia Police Services to design the site for public safety using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles.
- A variety of buffering and screening techniques will be used, in consultation with abutting residential property owners.
The Building & Its Potential Tenants
- 57 self-contained apartment units:
- 50 - one bedroom apartments at approximately 600 square feet
- 4 - one bedroom barrier free apartments at approximately 839 square feet
- 3 - two bedroom barrier free apartments at approximately 1,100 square feet.
- Potential rents of $502 (one bedroom) and $577 (two bedroom).
- 50 units would be targeted to seniors to meet the need identified in the 2005 Affordable Housing Strategy for Lambton County report.
- Seven (7) barrier free units will be targeted to the physically disabled to meet the need identified by community stakeholder groups, including the Go Committee, which is a group of parents seeking supportive housing for their adult, physically disabled children.
- Many of the LEED requirements will be incorporated to ensure a green approach to development.
- Office and clinical space will be available for agencies that provide support services (such as foot care) to the building's residents, or the neighbouring community.
- Space to store motorized mobility devices will also be included.
- A Community Room will be available for use by the building's residents.
The Construction Project
- A number of companies pre-qualified to submit a tender for the construction project.
- Tenders will be issued on April 26, 2010 and close on May 17, 2010.
- It is anticipated construction will start shortly after the announcement of the successful bidder.
- The construction project will take place over approximately 12 months.
Application Process - New Residents
The Housing Services Department is not currently accepting applications for residence at 993 Maxwell Street, Sarnia. Once the application criteria is developed, the Housing Services Department will undertake to communicate those details with the public.
993_Maxwell_-_from_South_East_Corner.pdf