Council to consider purchase of nursing home for affordable housing

In a push to create more affordable housing in the community, Chatham-Kent council will consider purchasing a nursing home property Monday night.

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Staff are recommending the purchase of the current Meadow Park facility, located at 110 Sandys St. in Chatham, from Jarlette Health Services for nearly $1.7 million, plus any associated closing costs, according to an agenda report posted online Thursday.

If approved, administration would be authorized to complete architectural designs, feasibility, development and cost estimates to help maximize the number of units.

Administration also would be directed to continue to seek senior government grant funding for capital costs, as well as potential partnerships for affordable housing options, and report back for council consideration by early next year, the report added.

The project, including purchase price and capital renovation costs, net of any grants, would be funded from a future long-term debenture with annual debt payments funded from existing affordable housing base budget.

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The current Meadow Park is 99-bed long-term care home comprised of 15 private rooms, 32 semi-private beds and 52 basic beds.

Meadow Park is constructing a new 160-bed replacement facility on the corner of Keil Drive North and McNaughton Avenue West.

The new home will provide 61 new and 99 upgraded beds in private and semi-private rooms. Meadow Park expects to be ready for its first residents by spring of 2026.

The property owner of the existing facility has “expressed interest in discussing opportunities for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent to review purchasing the building and property” for the community’s affordable housing needs, the report stated.

“Property at the corner of Sandys Street and Popular Street in Chatham would be an ideal location to develop an affordable housing build geared toward adults and seniors,” he said.

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This property consists of 1,223 hectares (3.02 acres) of institutionally zoned land, with a 45-year-old building containing a total area of ​​3,350 square meters (36,000 square feet). It was specifically designed as a licensed nursing home from its beginning.

“The existing building is in satisfactory condition with no major concerns,” the report added. “Any minor concerns with the building would be mitigated during the renovation process.”

Traffic volume is considered average during the business day and on-site parking is “adequate given the property’s current use.”

There is also room on the property to create more parking if needed.

“Administration has determined that this is a good strategic purchase to develop affordable housing,” the report stated.

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“(The) Chatham property would also strengthen the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s future affordable housing grant proposals that are geared toward shovel-ready projects and compressed timelines, such as the CMHC rapid housing initiative funding opportunities,” it said.

If approvals and funding applications are successful, construction could begin as early as late spring 2026 and be ready for occupancy sometime by the end of 2027.

“Once a proposed development process has been council-approved, project details will be communicated to the public through the Let’s Talk CK webpage. The adjacent neighboring property owners will receive a letter prior to construction informing them of the project, including frequently asked questions and contact information for the contractor, consultant and the municipality.”

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