Markham seniors told they can stay put

York Region, developer and Unionville Home Society agree to pursue plan that will avoid evicting 110 seniors.

Thestar.com
July 29, 2015
By Noor Javed

The seniors of a Markham retirement community who were to be evicted from their homes to make space for a new senior’s residence, have been told they can stay until their new homes are built.

The 110 seniors at the picturesque Markham Heritage Village in downtown Unionville were given the good news on Friday that officials will do what it takes to make sure they can stay in their homes until the new senior’s residence is built in 2020.

Initially, they had been told that they would be forced to make two moves, with one as early as December 2016, with the possibility of moving back into the new residence four years later. The prospect of two moves had concerned many of the residents, especially those in their late 90s.

“Residents were understandably concerned about their prospective relocation to other accommodations before a Regional building might become available on the site,” said Bruce Macgregor, the CAO of York Region, in an email to regional councillors, on Friday.

“All parties have agreed to pursue a revised plan that would see the regional building constructed first so that the residents might be offered the first opportunity for relocation within the community,” he said. “This should ease the initial concerns stemming from this proposal.”

When the residents heard the news, they began crying tears of joy and celebrating, said long-time resident Jeannine Harpell.

“We are all very happy here (with the news). The people are walking straight and they are smiling,” said resident Harpell, who received an email from local councillor Don Hamilton over the weekend, and shared it with her neighbours. “It’s all we could ask for,” she said.

During a Canada Day celebration, Harpell and her neighbours learned the 45-year-old community, made up of quaint one-bedroom bungalows and award-winning flower gardens, was to be demolished. The nearly 10-acre site will be sold to developer Minto by Unionville Home Society (UHS) on condition that a portion of the land is resold to York Region to build new affordable housing for seniors.

Proceeds of the sale are needed to help pay off the debts of the UHS, which manages the village and nearby long-term care facility Unionvilla.

In an email, the UHS said it had initiated the meetings with the developer and York Region to pursue the revised plan, and is pleased to “see things return to the original concept of phased development.”

But the UHS says “the matter is far from resolved” and that “best efforts are at work,” suggesting the relocation may still be the best option for some residents during the construction.

In June, York Region council approved acquiring the land from Minto, but has yet to approve funding for the new building.

Macgregor said it is likely that “more formal submission seeking site plan and zoning approvals will be submitted to Markham late this year.”