Heide said they have a mortgage with a financial institution for $4.5 million to help with costs. This helps them secure the financing they need to work on the project.
As well, the group held a major fundraising campaign, which raised $2 million from the community to make up the rest of the $6.5 million cost of construction. This was completed by December 2019. As important an achievement as that is, it is even more impressive that the bulk of those pledges are already in. Heide said there is only about $70,000 left outstanding, which is really helpful.
“It is totally amazing to have that in. There have been no defaults. It is showing up really well, and we are very confident the pledges will be paid up full in the future. We thank the community for their support and full commitment.”
As for construction, he said the contractors, headed by Gordon Turner, have been working diligently since day one. Heide said they have been fortunate since they started that the weather was good in the spring and summer when the outside walls went up, and that the COVID restrictions did not cause any trouble. He said the upper floor is almost completed and there will be siding to go on the outside of the building when it warms up. They have had a bit of a challenge with getting the showers in, but they are on backorder and will be coming. The kitchen is coming along well, with the walk in fridge and freezer installation ongoing.
“It’s really a great thing going on now for the trades, keeping them busy,” Heide stated. “We’re not visiting the site too much, but you could not ask for better results than we have had.”
He added there is still plenty of finishing to do on the project, saying that often takes up half the construction time.
One area somewhat delayed is the possibility of some grants for soft costs like furniture. The coronavirus has pushed those decisions to the background.
Heide said they soon would be advertising for a building manager. Once that person is hired, they can move forward on hiring the other people to work in the facility in areas like kitchen and laundry. He feels they will be asking for applications in the next month or two.
They will also be moving ahead with potential tenants. They have asked for names in the past, and have come up with 60 potential people, so there is every expectation they will be full soon after opening. Heide said they would likely do it gradually, and not bring in all tenants at the same time. They would like to meet with the prospective people personally, but all they can do now is by phone.
“It would be nice to see them face to face, have meetings, so they can get a handle on changing residences and issues like that.”
The idea is the building will be completed by the start of July, with people moving in soon after. When asked about COVID getting in the way, Heide said they are hoping by that point, there will be enough vaccinations done and if the numbers of positives in local communities stay low, it should not be a problem. However, everyone will have to wait and see.
Heide said it has been a difficult time for everyone, and the assisted living development might be the good news everyone needs. He looks forward to a time when they can actually tour people around the facility.
“Then we can have the ‘oohs and ahs’,” he said. “Everything is moving in right direction and people are excited about it.”

by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff