Details on proposed Seniors Housing project for Neptune site to be reviewed by Council

Council will be looking at the prospect
of a change to Seniors Housing for
the old Neptune Inn site this Monday

A New Name, a New Look and New Purpose all could be on the horizon for the old Neptune Inn on Chamberlain Avenue in Prince Rupert.

One potential partial solution to the city's need for more Senior's housing will be reviewed on Monday evening, as City Council examines a proposal from Macro Properties which has provided some background for council on its plans for the Neptune hotel site in the Yellowhead Industrial Park.

In a report for Monday's Council session, City Planner Zeno Krekic provides an overview of what Macro has in mind for the site, which would see the now closed motor hotel renovated and renamed as the Hilltop Lodge with a focus on affordale living for Seniors.

In their presentation to Council the property management company outlines the  history of Neptune Motor Inn and how when they acquired the property there was a low occupancy to the rooms making it no longer economical to run as a Motor Inn.

Since then, Macro has explored its options for the land and have focused on the potential of turning it into affordable Seniors housing for the community, putting forward the prospect of a new housing option that would offer 18 accessible main floor single occupancy suites, 16 second floor single occupancy suites and 2 second floor single or double occupancy suites.

They are looking to attract tenants who would be 55 or older, looking for an independent living community with some services and amenities.

Macro notes that the current rental rates in the city average at around 800 dollars per month for a one bedroom apartment and 900 a month for a two bedroom option.

Macro is projecting rents for the Hilltop Lodge units as much as $125 less, including cable, wifi, heat and hydro, they also will be offering services and amenities not offered in their other rental properties in the community.

Some of those options would see Macro set to offer tenants a chance to sign-up for a weekly cleaning service and/or laundry service at a charge.

Projected rents for proposed Seniors Housing units to be renovated
at the old Neptune Inn Site and renamed Hilltop Lodge

Mr. Krekic's review for council highlights two potential areas of concern:

The property is located in the light industrial district, nestled between two car dealerships and an auto parts store. In other words, neighbouring land uses can change without a specific regard to this property being residential.

The nearest bus stop is approximately half a kilometer and the nearest corner store is approximately one kilometer away.

Macro Properties addresses the transportation concern in their notes for Council, observing that the proposed Seniors residence is close to the Port Edward bus route Number 60.

Advising the city that they have been in communication with BC Transit to provide a bus stop closer to the proposed Seniors housing facility.

They also note that many Seniors have access to the Handy Dart service which provides door to door transit service in the community.

Council will review the proposal at Monday's council session, with the recommendation from the City Planner that Council give First Reading to the proposed Quality of Life Official Community Plan bylaw and the proposed Zoning Amendment.

In order for the project to be developed, Council will have to change the zoning in question from Light Industrial to Multiple Family Residential.

Rezoning for a portion of the industrial land on Chamberlain Avenue
will be up for discussion on Monday at City Council 

Should Council decide to move forward on the issue, they will also be asked to instruct Macro Properties to hold an Information Meeting on the theme of their proposed development.

Senior's Housing has been a frequent topic for both the current City Council and those that came before it  over the years and one of the recurring themes from those reviews has been the desire to see Senior's Housing located closer to the Downtown Core.

Whether the Macro proposal will offer enough options for Seniors to overcome some of those concerns, could make for a good portion of the discussion on Monday.

More background on the Macro Proposal can be found from the Agenda Package for Monday's Council session here, it starts on page 13 and continues through until  page 40.

Further notes on Housing across the Northwest can be found on our  Housing archive page here.

While notes related to City Council discussions can be reviewed on our Council Discussion archive.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review