Residence closure near Edmonton university a 'shock'

An apartment residence near the University of Alberta has given its tenants a surprise: three months' notice of its closure.

An apartment residence near the University of Alberta has given residents a surprise: three months' notice of its closure.

The volunteer board of The Ashbourne, an assisted-living facility built by the Garneau United Church, last week told the 78 people that call it home they have until Nov. 30 to move out.

Board advisor Chris Bruce told CTV News Edmonton the new owners, who recently purchased the 65-unit property from the non-profit Garneau United Assisted Living Place, decided operating the building as a residence isn't financially viable.

"The intent, originally, was that they would also operate it as an assisted living facility," said Bruce. "Unfortunately, several weeks ago, that plan changed and they decided that's not financially viable for them, either, to operate as an assisted-living facility. We had to pivot at that point and make the decision to go ahead and sell the building."

The church, which has operated in the building after constructing it on the original structure's site as a legacy for the community, will continue to hold services at the facility for at least the next two years.

Robert Tuesday, who's lived at The Ashbourne for just more than a year, said the closure announcement came as a surprise.

"Everybody's pretty shocked, I think," said Tuesday, who hasn't yet started looking for a new place to live but is considering other plans, such as moving to Winnipeg or Ontario. "People are not feeling too good about it. Everybody got used to being here and being with the same staff and same residents."