2023-09-27

Community organization starts $5 million capital campaign toward housing effort

NEW ROSS - Supporters of a future Rosebank Road housing development are trying to raise $5 million toward capital costs and set a goal of starting construction in the spring of 2024.

In recent weeks, the New Ross Community Care Centre, a non-profit volunteer group leading the effort, hosted a public open house at the New Ross Legion to answer questions about the project and give a progress report.

"It's been very busy and very successful," Valerie White, the centre's chairperson, told LighthouseNOW. "We're looking forward to moving on to the next steps."

One of those next steps is a deeper dive into financing, including the pursuit of grants, and the $5 million fundraising appeal, which is happening at the same time the centre eyes starting the first part of a multi-phase development in the months ahead.

The group has been working on the project since about 2018 and, despite challenges in terms of stops-and-starts for construction forecasts, hasn't flinched in face of adversity. The centre is also hoping for in-kind support.

"New Ross has always been a strong community with many volunteers and everyone works together as a solid team," White added.

On social media, the centre announced that it received nearly $100,000 earlier this year from a Quebec-based non-profit toward business planning and other aspects. The public sector has also opened its wallet. The Municipality of Chester, for example, pledged $100,000.

"We have been through several financial efforts," said Dave Harrison, who's managing the centre's housing project. At the time of the interview with LighthouseNOW, Harrison said the preliminary designs were finished and costs and concepts were the next focus.

"We're going to revisit these preliminary designs and get more technical information on the property, in particular the capacity for water, treatment, and roads and see how effectively that can be laid out."

At the time of the open house, the centre outlined intentions to build five, two-unit dwellings in the initial phase. The ground floor units will have one or two bedrooms, she said, and it will be a mix of market and subsidized apartments.

"People need housing they can afford," commented White. "Housing is health."

In October 2022, the centre bought 21 hectares, the size equivalent of about nearly 30 soccer fields, from the Anglican Church for $100,000. The arrangement includes the opportunity for the centre to acquire another 20 hectares in the future, White said. The property is near the local school, resource centre and grocery store.

"We're at the mercy of forces beyond this community, no matter who's doing the building," Harrison told LighthouseNOW, alluding to interest rates and labour and supply availability a examples. "That's why getting the financing in place and correct is a major step."

Plans presented at the open house showed intentions for three more two-unit buildings in the second phase. There's also indications the centre plans to establish a community garden and community centre building.

White and Harrison are bullish about the prospects of success.

"I love the capacity in rural communities and I'm here to assist with its vision and bring it to fruition," said Harrison.

White pointed to the New Ross area's "history of support," identifying effective campaigns in the past to benefit the Ross Farm Museum and fairgrounds.