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Going uptown

October 9, 2012 | Bob Vrbanac | Waterloo Chronicle | LINK

The developers behind The Uptown development on Lexington Road in Waterloo are trying to change the outlook for retirement living.

The plan is to convert part of the property already contiguous with Pinehaven Retirement Residence and turn it into a sleek new live/lease residence that boasts modern amenities and the best design

features.

“We’re going to take it to a place where we give them a lifestyle,” said Paul Michelin, president of Maxion, a construction firm based in Barrie. “This next demographic and age group are extremely active.

“It’s very important that we embrace that in our design and our building.”

That’s why the first phase of the project will include an indoor pool, spa and common areas to encourage a sense of community. It will also feature glass vistas with the outdoors, including a generous gathering space plus tie-ins to the local trail system, augmenting programming inside of the building.

“Everybody can build a condo,” said Michelin. “Not too many people can build a lifestyle.”

“It’s not a brick and mortar development,” said Rob Dal Bianco, President of Deem Management Services Ltd., owner of the site. “It’s about a layer of lifestyle that goes over top of the bricks and mortar, and that’s so important for seniors — the social component of it.

“We’re trying to encourage people to socialize and become a community once they move in.”

But it’s not exclusive to seniors, Dal Bianco said. The vision is to get people to buy into the nicely appointed units that range in size from 350 to 1,600 square-foot units and stay and transition through the whole continuum of care.

The most important thing is that residents will own their suites and retain the equity. They will also have a sense of ownership that comes with that.

“I think seniors are becoming more sophisticated than they used to be,” said Dal Bianco. “And we’re becoming more sophisticated in how we care for our seniors, and what we’re looking at here is the future of seniors living.

“We don’t want people to think of this as a seniors complex, it’s an opportunity to bring in a little younger generation, 55 and up, and let them age in place.”

Michelin said that there will be active programming to take residents out of the building and into the community. There will also be excursions to other attractions, and it will follow a trend that is being developed by other live/lease projects.

“It’s like a cruise ship mentality where there is always something happening and there will be daily or weekly excursions to get people out and into the building,” said Michelin. “You want to make sure they enjoy being here, and that social aspect is extremely important.”

The City of Waterloo is also an ideal place with close proximity to shopping and other attractions at Conestoga Mall, and well as recreational opportunities at nearby RIM Park.

“Quality of life is a big issue for them,” said Michelin. “I think we’re well situated on the east side of Waterloo.”
The developers hope to begin construction on the site by the summer of 2013, and maybe even sooner, depending on demand. The Uptown will open its presentation centre Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more info visit www.theuptown.ca.

Major expansion for Pinehaven would let seniors age in place
July 8, 2013 | Paige Desmond | The Record | LINK

WATERLOO — A major expansion proposed for Pinehaven Nursing Residence will provide local seniors with the opportunity to age in place.

Independent living, assisted living and long-term care accommodations would total a combined 691 units. The expansion would double the number of buildings, and add more than five times as many beds at Pinehaven, which currently accommodates about 37 people in a nursing home and 84 in a retirement residence.

The expansion plan will be presented to the public at a Waterloo council meeting July 15. No decisions will be made at that time.

"I think the more options, the better as our population is aging," said Coun. Angela Vieth, a member of the city's 55-plus advisory group.

The plan proposes tearing down the existing two structures and building three new, six-storey buildings which would eventually connect to form one linked building. A separate six-storey building is also planned.

Current residents wouldn't be displaced during construction.

Located on Lexington Road at the intersection with Davenport Road, the residence will undergo construction in phases.

"We are a lifestyle community built for older adults," said Sheri Maynard, director of marketing for construction company Maxion Management Services Inc., which brought the rezoning application with Deem Management Services Ltd.

Planned amenities include a large swimming pool, movie screening rooms and multiple gathering spaces including a large patio. As residents age, they can move to a different area of the development and receive additional services or care, she said.

"It's a fabulous lifestyle," Maynard said. "We provide healthy aging-in-place strategies."

Ward Coun. Mark Whaley said the idea of aging in place provides some stability for older adults.

"When my mom was going through these years we had to take her to three different facilities and it was really traumatic for her," Whaley said. "You're bringing calm, your family knows how to get there, you're familiar with the area and the people."

An original proposal called for making additions to the two existing buildings instead of building new. But a change in the city's Official Plan, which regulates development, allowed developers to provide more bedrooms.

"This is a great new approach which will benefit the residents," city planner Trevor Hawkins said. "They'll benefit from new construction."

There are 137 above-ground parking spaces proposed and 201 underground.

The site does pose some challenges, however.

Hawkins said a steep grade on the currently undeveloped portion of the site is what has prevented full use of the property to date. The property's proximity to the expressway is another issue the city will be looking for the proposal to address.

Due to noise concerns from traffic, a noise study recommends warning clauses be included in tenant agreements.