Bradford West Gwillimbury is about to take a leap of faith to help upgrade a vital community service in the municipality.
Committee-of-the-whole recommended Tuesday for the town to donate its property at 31 Frederick St, current home of St Mary’s Hall, to Leap of Faith Together (LOFT) Community Services so that the non-profit organization can construct a new version of its Bradford House campus.
Current tenants of 31 Frederick will be given the opportunity to relocate to the new Bradford Community Hub, located in the former Bradford Public School at 177 Queen St. That facility is expected to be complete in 2022.
On the .35 hectare site, LOFT plans to build a five- or six-storey development that will house up to 100 self-contained units, adding capacity for 54 more residents than the current facility.
“We are wanting to build a site that is well-designed for our clients’ needs as well as our staff needs,” said Heather McDonald, CEO of LOFT Community Services. As grateful as LOFT is for the ongoing support of the community in its current location, it isn't able to adequately serve the municipality and its residents.
“We want to have health services brought to the community and be more accessible to people in Bradford,” she added.
Bradford House is currently in operation at 136 Barrie St. Representatives from LOFT last appeared before council in 2020 explaining the need for a new facility, given that the property at 136 Barrie had become inadequate, due to its size and age. At the time, the organization formally requested the town to donate property for a new build.
Following the presentation, town staff worked with LOFT to find a suitable parcel of land so that it could remain in the community. They didn’t have to look too far from the current location, as 31 Frederick is a mere 220 metres away.
“The Frederick Street site (will) enable us to stay in the neighbourhood we’ve come to know and love,” explained Carrie Hayward, a board member of Bradford House. The project, she said, is more than housing: it provides an overarching benefit to the community through the creation of new jobs and new amenities.
Councillors were eager to support the project.
“We want affordable housing, but we want it done with dignity and respect,” said Deputy Mayor James Leduc. “We want to make sure we can do the best for all the residents in our community. Whether it’s transitional housing or affordable housing, it’s all the same."
Among the next steps for LOFT will be a community information meeting where details will be shared regarding the proposal with the neighbours in the area. A site plan analysis is planed throughout the winter and spring of 2022.
MacDonald stressed the importance of the land donation in the successful completion of the project. With this step, LOFT is now in a better position to access funding from both the federal and provincial governments. As well, the entirety of the proceeds from 136 Barrie will be used to fund the new build.
In total, LOFT estimates the project will represent an overall investment of close to $33 million in the community. Any gaps in financing will be filled through fundraising.
“We’re not in it for profit,” MacDonald said. “We’re in it for the mission and to give back to the community.”
