Is there a market for a modest assisted living complex in the Energy City?
Frank John, a retired businessman and community volunteer, would like to know and he’s wondering if other senior citizens are too?
“It takes a market study to find out who might be interested in a plan for those like us who are looking to downsize, but not really wanting to get into a condo or a full Level 1 to 4 facility,” said John.
“We want to stay in Estevan. Other people might be in our situation,” he said, referring to himself and wife Toni who are currently residing in a single-family home.
“Not a condo, but rather a condo plus. If it’s a condo, heck I’d just stay in my house,” he said.
There are no assisted living units in Weyburn, he stated, demonstrating that he has done a little studying on the subject. “But Humboldt, Kindersley, North Battleford have them. There is something happening in Swift Current too,” he said, adding they have encountered similar models in British Columbia on a much larger scale.
A desire to remain in Estevan has triggered John’s modest action plan and so he’d like to hear from other like-minded seniors who are perhaps contemplating their future living arrangements.
“Generally speaking these units are 800 to 1,100 square feet and are home-like. Insofar as you have bedrooms, living rooms, full bathrooms, kitchens, like a typical bungalow would have. Yet there are common areas for dining if you wish or entertainment and activity centres, not unlike what you’ll get at Creighton Lodge, only larger and even more residential.”
John said the Creighton Lodge model, operated by a consortium of surrounding rural municipalities, is obviously popular and he understands the waiting list is well over 100 now, so that might tell developers and marketers something.
“I have had a couple of visits with a local developer and projects like I’m trying to suggest require suitably-sized property. You have to get the City on board with the plan too. You need to get the water, sewer, and other infrastructure hooked up. That’s a big hurdle these days, finding the property and getting it developed,” he said.
The developer is interested, he said, and is doing some additional homework and so John said it was probably a good opportunity for him to go public with his appeal just to see if other residents in Estevan were looking for an alternative to what the local market is already providing.
“So I’m starting with the newspaper to take a stab at making a connection to see if there is some interest. I’m curious and, as I said, we want to stay in Estevan. We’ve travelled to B.C. and like it, but Estevan is where we want to be,” he said.
