94-unit seniors' complex proposed

[ DECEMBER 14, 2009 ]

A 94-unit seniors’ housing complex is being proposed for Moosomin.

Caleb Group, which has developed seniors’ communities in towns and cities including Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Kindersley, Swift Current, Moose Jaw and Yorkton, was invited by the Moosomin Chamber of Commerce and the town of Moosomin to consider a development in Moosomin.

The company held two public meetings in Moosomin in December, and is now following up with people who expressed an interest in the project. Good crowds attended both meetings.

“We have recently developed a new and innovative model for smaller markets such as Moosomin,” Caleb president Darrell Remai told the crowd at the meetings. “The first model of this type opened in June in Kindersley and has been an outstanding success.”

Remai said Caleb is looking at Moosomin because the leadership of the community approached the company. “Your leadership has a heart for seniors, and that’s why we’re here,” he said.

The community approached Caleb Group about locating in Moosomin last year.

Moosomin Chamber of Commerce president Kevin Weedmark was aware that Caleb was in the process of developing a seniors’ complex in Kindersley, its first location outside of a city.

Weedmark says he thought a seniors development like Caleb Village would benefit the entire area.

“I thought it would solve several problems at once,” he said. “First of all, it would provide a type of housing in our region that people are currently moving to the city for. Secondly, it would give more seniors the opportunity to stay in this area where they want to stay. What a tragedy it is when people have to leave the community they’ve spent their life in because this type of housing isn’t available here. Thirdly, as people move into Caleb Village Moosomin, it should make more reasonably priced housing available in all communities in the region for people moving into the area for work, as seniors put their homes on the market.”

Weedmark, then-Mayor Larry Miskiman, and then-REDA economic development officer Jeff Cole travelled to Saskatoon in the summer of 2008 to meet with Caleb president and CEO Darrell Remai, and told Remai they thought Moosomin would be a good fit for the company because of the presence of the new Southeast Integrated Care Centre and the stable medical practice.

“The reason we pursued it is that it is exactly what communities our size need in a retirement village model,” says Miskiman.

“When we talk to our doctors they say there are a lot of seniors in our area who would benefit from this type of project. What we need is a stepping stone between home ownership and the nursing home. That’s why I was working very diligently to get this project under way, and I’m very pleased that they’re now carrying it forward.”

The former mayor said the Caleb Village model has worked well in rural Saskatchewan. “The model they have is very successful in Kindersley,” he noted. “Any time you can get 94 units in a community our size, it’s good for the community and it should help take care of the housing shortage. I’m optimistic that it’s exactly what’s needed for this area.”

He noted the project will benefit not only Moosomin, but the entire region.

“It’s going to take the larger area to make it happen,” he said.

Remai said he was impressed with the fact that a group of community leaders from Moosomin travelled to Saskatoon to make the case for the community. “We get inquiries almost on a weekly basis to come and build a Caleb community in smaller centres,” Remai said. “In Moosomin’s case, the community leaders came and talked to us, and gave us information on their community that was very instrumental. We came and looked at the community, we looked at the demographics, and thought it would just be ideal for a Caleb Village project.” Caleb representatives visited Moosomin on a couple of occasions over the last year, and came to an agreement with the town on a five-year municipal property tax abatement on the development, and were given an option to purchase a 2.5 acre parcel of land between Henry Street and Wright Road, across from Lloyd Bradley Park.

Moosomin’s new mayor, Don Bradley, said he is looking forward to seeing the Caleb Village project take shape.

“I’m excited about it,” he said. “This is exactly the type of thing we need in Moosomin. I think this will be great for the town.”

He said a lot of people have been looking over displays at the town office showing floorplans and a site plan.

Caleb Group officials hope to sell 30 condo units in the building before construction starts. They received contact information from 90 people at the meetings in December.

“If we get a commitment for 30 units, we will build,” Remai said. “We can be out of the ground in 90-100 days. We have the capital in place, we have the financing in place. This project is shovel ready.”

Rental units in the building, including meals, housekeeping, and linen service, will begin at $1,450 per month. Condo units will begin at $110,000. The $15 million development will include more than 30,000 square feet of common areas, including a dining room, library, exercise room, multi-purpose games and activity area and coffee bistro.

Caleb Village will offer residents nutritious meals, a coffee bistro and snack bar, housekeeping, linen and towel service, a 24-hour emergency response system, transportation, and recreational activities.

Residents will have the option of purchasing or leasing a residence in Caleb Village. Renters will have all services included in their monthly rent, while purchasers will have the option of purchasing lifestyle packages including meals, housekeeping and laundry that are customized to their individual requirements. Each residence will be fully self-contained, with in-suite laundry and a full kitchen.

The four storey building will contain 95,000 square feet of space. Individual suites will range from studio units to two-bedroom suites, and will range in size from about 400 square feet to more than 1,200 square feet.

Caleb Village will create 50-75 construction jobs during the 15-month construction period, and will provide 30-40 permanent jobs when it opens.

The project is expected to create $9 million of economic spinoff during construction and should contribute $1 million a year to the local economy after opening.

Weedmark said he hopes to see the project fill up. “This is exactly the type of development people have been saying for years that we need in our area,” he said.

“Now we have a company that is absolutely expert in this type of development willing to work with us in our community. I hope we can take this opportunity to develop our community for the future, and provide an important service for our seniors.”

Information on Caleb Group and its retirement communities is available at www.calebgroup.ca or by calling 1-866-352-2532.