A new mixed-use seniors complex is coming to the south end.
During its Tuesday evening meeting, city council unanimously approved plans for a five or six-storey building with 245 residential units and dedicated commercial space on an ‘L’ shaped site on the south side of Arkell Road, just east of Gordon Street, with some frontage along Gordon.
The properties are officially known as 33 to 41 Arkell Rd. and 1408 Gordon St.
"I think this application is going to be fantastic for the community," said Ward 6 councillor Ken Yee Chew, who moved approval of the motion.
Fellow Ward 6 representative Dominique O'Rourke seconded the motion.
All Seniors Care (Guelph) plans to build a five to six-storey complex with 47 retirement apartments, 114 independent living units and 84 memory care (dementia and Alzheimer's) units, each in a separate wing on the 4.85-acre site. The plan also features 257 square metres of dedicated commercial space.
In approving the project, council agreed to rezone the properties to 'specialized general apartment' from 'residential single detached' and 'specialized cluster townhouse,’ along with a variety of zoning bylaw amendments for reduced setbacks as well as increased density and floor space.
During a May, 2021 public open house, a single speaker raised concerns about the “creeping privatization of healthcare,” especially in light of the aging population, as well as whether the project provides enough parking space for residents, employees, visitors and various assistance providers.
At that time, a representative of the developer said the plan contained 155 parking spaces, including 50 underground.
A revisited application submitted last May saw no change in the number of units, building height or commercial floor area, with no mention of a difference in the quantity of parking spaces.
However, the proponent increased the proposed setback to Arkell Road “to reflect the required road widening,” enhance the landscape buffer around the perimeter of the site and reconfigure walkways, parking areas and drive aisles, as explained in a post on the city’s website.
