A mixed-use retirement community intended to allow seniors to age in place is being proposed for the area of Gordon Street and Arkell Road, directly adjacent to another development being planned for that corner.
If approved, the property of the proposed development at 33 to 37 Arkell Rd. and 1408 Gordon St. would wrap around the outside edges of the 1354 Gordon St. corner property, in which an eight-storey apartment building is being proposed, on the site of the former Hamilton Garage, an area colloquially known as ‘Hamilton Corners.’
The facility would have three sections, all of which are interconnected, according to documents filed with the city.
The general apartment section in the centre would be six storeys, while the the assisted and memory care sub-community to the north would be five. The retirement apartment sub-community of the facility would be situated toward the south of the site and will be five storeys in height.
The new proposal by developer ASC (Guelph) Facility Limited Partnership seeks to add 47 retirement-oriented apartment suites, 99 independent living suites, 80 memory care residential units on the 4.85-acre site, as well as a dedicated commercial unit along the Arkell Road frontage.
The properties that currently make up the proposed site are zoned differently, including for single-detached dwelling and a cluster townhouse zone. The developer will be seeking to amend the zoning bylaw to allow the entire site to be rezoned R4 (general apartment) with a special regulation to permit commercial uses on the site.
A formal site plan application will be advanced following the review of the zoning bylaw amendment by city staff, consultation with city council and area residents.
A zoning amendment application for the adjacent 1354 Gordon St. site is currently under review by the city.
The right-in-right-out driveway access for the site is being proposed at Arkell Road, which will minimize the amount of grading and retaining required on the site. In addition, the parking facility will be underground at one side and partially exposed visible in the north-west corner of the site in order to deal with the grade of the property.
Each retirement-oriented apartment unit includes a full kitchen and parking space, while the independent living suites feature a small kitchenette with a full-function dining room.
The care units are oriented as a series of 20-unit neighbourhoods with daily supervision and all of the residents have access to amenities, like a swimming pool, fitness facilities, a library, a chapel and theatre, among others.
Memory unit residents would have exclusive access to a secured outdoor terrace, while outdoor amenity areas would include outdoor dining areas, outdoor seating and walking paths.
The intention of the overall development is to allow residents to age in place and move from one part of the facility to another as their needs change.
The developer of the proposed senior’s community does not currently contemplate the inclusion of affordable housing for the project.
