Sault Ste. Marie Royal Canadian Legion branches out into affordable housing for veterans
CBC
Passersby in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., may have noticed a flurry of construction at 96 Great Northern Rd., where the Royal Canadian Legion says it's redeveloping local Branch 25 to include 35 affordable housing units.
Local Branch 25's original building served as a home away from home for many community members since the mid-1960s. But it was in need of repairs for some time, says legion vice-president Pierre Breckenridge.
When it came time to decide what to do with the building, the legion chose to partner with local developer Sal-Dan Developments and redevelop the building to include a bar, a museum and an upper level with 107 apartments — 35 of which will be affordable units intended for veterans.
"It's definitely a project of the heart," Breckenridge said.
"We believe that if this model is successful in Sault Ste. Marie, the Royal Canadian Legion will continue to be able to service veterans and their families as well as the community for a number of years going forward."
"Unfortunately, a number of veterans are finding themselves where they can't afford to live," he said. "So if we can make it a little easier, then it's our duty and responsibility."
The redevelopment project comes at a time when Sault Ste. Marie city council is looking to Barrie and how the southern Ontario city tackles the community's affordable housing needs. There, the city offers a program where select property owners have the chance to apply for financial support to do an affordable housing feasibility study. Each study in that city is estimated to cost about $20,000.
Breckenridge said the legion intends to support veterans throughout the redevelopment process. So far, the project has hired 15 veterans to help during the construction process.
"Once the construction is finished, we also plan to offer any service positions at the building, to veterans first," he said. "So the hope and idea would be that at some point, a veteran would be managing the building."
Breckenridge said the new building will cost about $34 million to construct, with the legion providing the property as its cash contribution to the project and the developer matching that amount. The remainder has been taken out as a loan from the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC).
In addition to being able to offer affordable housing to veterans in need, Breckenridge said this will offer a more sustainable, long-term financial model for the legion.
Should the project be successful in Sault Ste. Marie, Breckenridge said, the model could be explored at other legion locations.
"We truly believe that this was our best option given the choices we had, to secure a future for the legion and our veterans in the community," he said.
The new legion building is expected to be completed by June 2024.
The days leading up to Christmas day can be the most stressful time of the holidays. Especially if those days are spent travelling to the post office hoping to pick up that special, last minute gift you ordered online, just in time to put it under the tree.
The Yukon's energy provider says Whitehorse is not at imminent risk of blackouts, but with very cold weather forecasted through the holidays, residents are still being asked to conserve power.
A pedestrian is dead after a vehicle crashed into a building in Toronto, said police.
RCMP in Inuvik, N.W.T., say two youth have been arrested after officers found suspected cocaine and a loaded firearm at a home in the community.
Canada and 13 other countries issued a joint statement Wednesday condemning the Israeli security cabinet's approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Alberta health officials are flagging the circulation of a rare bacteria known as Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) among homeless adults living in Calgary.
The future of a prominent building in London's Old East Village (OEV), once home to the London Food Incubator, is looking uncertain following the relocation of its anchor tenant and the planned departure of another.
As Yukon continues to deal with a prolonged spell of extreme cold, emergency officials are advising people to be prepared in case of a power outage.
Police say they have found and arrested 47-year-old Douglas Yetman, a man wanted for murder.
Confirmed flu cases in northeastern Ontario are much higher now than they were at the same period last year.
The organization that represents some of America's largest spirits producers is calling for the NSLC to remove a policy that gives preferential markup to Nova Scotian spirit products.
Some energy experts are challenging N.B. Power’s claim that a proposed billion-dollar power plant is needed to avoid an electricity shortage predicted for 2028.
After walking a few laps around the shop, Maria Castagna picks up a glass ornament in the form of a pink, sparkly ice cream cone and smiles widely.