A planned 10-storey retirement home on West Street is the kind of development Brantford needs, says a city councilor.
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“I’m very supportive of this development,” Richard Carpenter said Thursday at a city council planning meeting. “It’s unique for the neighborhood and it’s something our aging population needs.
“They won’t have to go to a long-term care home, they’ll be able to go here and get the level of service they need as they need it.”
The Ward 4 councilor said the development will give people a unique way to live independently and is much needed.
Plans call for a 10-storey mixed use building to be constructed at 571 West St. At present, the 1.74 acre property has a vacant, one-storey building that was once home to CKPC Radio station.
The proposed development calls for 239 residential units with 82 ground level and 88 underground parking spots. The ground floor will be used for commercial purposes, the planning committee was told.
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The retirement home will have 239 units including 27 studio apartments, 159 one-bedroom units and 53 two bedroom units.
The planning committee recommended approval of a request to change the zoning by law to general commercial from general industrial to allow the project to move forward.
Prior to voting, councilors heard from residents in the area concerned about the impact increased traffic will have on the area and how construction of the building will impact them.
Coun. Dan McCreary sought to allay those concerns.
The Ward 3 councilor said he and Greg Martin, (Ward 3) will do their best to address traffic-related issues as the project unfolds.
McCreary said the developer building the West Street retirement home is also building a project on North Park Street.
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Neighbors of the North Park Street development have also raised concerns and McCreary said the developer has addressed their concerns in a timely manner.
McCreary said residents can assured that the developer will do his best to ensure impacts during the construction period are kept to a minimum.
The developer behind the West Street project is Danny Bawa, who is also building the Woodwind Retirement Home on North Park Street.
Coun. Rose Sicoli called the development much-needed and said it will have a domino effect on the local housing market.
Many seniors are remaining in their homes as long as possible because they can’t find appropriate housing. The proposed retirement home project provides them with an option.
When seniors have an appropriate option, they will move out of their homes giving younger people a chance to get into the housing market.
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