Former Ramada in Timmins will now be used to house seniors

Cochrane District Services Board has abandoned plans to convert the former Ramada Inn hotel it purchased into a hart hub.

The Cochrane District Services Board in Timmins has abandoned plans to convert a former Ramada Inn into a health hub to help address the mental health and addiction crisis in the community.

Instead, the board said Friday it’s exploring the idea of using the facility on Riverside Drive to create 100 seniors housing units.

“This project would see the rapid development of approximately 100 seniors housing units, helping to significantly address housing needs in the Cochrane District,” the board said in a news release.

“There are over 880 seniors on the wait list for housing, a number that is anticipated to grow.”

There was considerable opposition from residents to using the former inn for addictions and mental health services. Many residents were already upset about the location of the Living Space shelter and the impact it had on the neighbourhood.

Some expected that the Ramada would be the site of the Timmins HART Hub, but the city was left off of a list of hubs the province announced just before the Feb. 27 election was called.

So the board has quickly shifted gears and plans to use the site to ease the shortage of seniors housing.

“The proposed seniors housing facility would look to provide independent living, with the provision of meals, light housekeeping and recreational activities,” Friday’s news release said.

“An evaluation of the facility found that the building was assessed in good condition with strong structural integrity. Key upgrades to the facility would look to include accessibility enhancements, including the installation of an elevator, updating kitchen ventilation systems, and updating smoke detectors in rooms and hallways, among others.”

Renovation costs would be offset by reallocating “existing provincial and federal funding.”

“To redevelop this property for seniors housing a zoning change is required,” the release said.

More information can be found within the CDSB Administrative Report here.