City council approved a new location for the Canadian Mental Health Association Battlefords branch's new independent supported living project proposed. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

In the Chambers

New location for mental health supported independent living housing development

Mar 11, 2020 | 4:55 PM

North Battleford lawmakers approved a new location requested by Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Battlefords branch for a proposed project for a mental health supported independent living housing development in the city.

The site initially to be located at 1922 Kramer Place will now move directly north to 1942 Kramer Place, which has a larger lot than the initial site proposed.

CMHA Battlefords branch determined the new location was deemed to be a more suitable spot for the development. At the original site the shape of the lot and the cul-de-sac location posed problems with CMHA’s preliminary design for the development.

“The alignment of the [original] lot itself is kind of triangular in shape and didn’t accommodate the eight units,” Mayor Ryan Bater said. “So they requested that council consider the lot immediately to the north. Council consented to that.”

Bater said there are already multi-family units nearby, so the new project fits with the neighbourhood.

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“I commend the Battlefords branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association for their leadership on this, and we are glad to support it,” Bater said.

City Planner Ryan Mackrell said in his report changing the location to the new site has no impact or cost to the city.

Council agreed to donate a property on Kramer Place to the Battlefords Canadian Mental Health Association for the development of an eight-unit supported living apartment complex if funds were secured through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.

Mackrell indicated the project has now progressed into the design stage.

City council originally donated land for the proposed independent supported living housing project in North Battleford last June. The aim of the project is to ease the transition for those living with mental illness into the community.

As reported previously, CMHA Battlefords branch Executive Director Jane Zielke de Montbrun originally asked for the land for the complex at Kramer Place to help reduce the cost of the housing project.

The proposal is for two four-unit, one bedroom apartment buildings that face each other, with shared green space in the middle. A common meeting area will be located at the back, that is expected to be used as a social teaching space for residents. Zielke de Montbrun had indicated the common space will have the capacity to provide emergency transitional housing for one individual as required.

The Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) is expected to cover 70 per cent of the cost, while the remaining 30 per cent will be secured through a mortgage taken out by CMHA, paid by rent collected from tenants.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW