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Affordable, accessible unit fills need in Kincardine By Liz Dadson |
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 Darren Eskrick (C) has an affordable, accessible housing unit, thanks to the efforts of Susan Earle (L) and Christine MacDonald (R) of Bruce County Housing, Don Brisson of St. Vincent de Paul, Kincardine, landlord Jason Kirkconnell, and Greg Wilhelm of the Kincardine Rotary Club | ||||
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Darren Eskrick of Kincardine has been waiting three years for an affordable, accessible housing unit to call home. Now, thanks to the hard work of Bruce County Housing, a local landlord, and the Kincardine community, he has moved into a warm, cosy apartment at the corner of Walsh and Russell Streets. Monday (Jan. 31), that group gathered in Eskrick's home to present funds from the community to landlord Jason Kirkconnell to help offset the construction costs of the fully-accessible unit. Don Brisson of St. Vincent de Paul, Kincardine, presented a cheque for $1,250, while Greg Wilhelm, president of the Kincardine Rotary Club, presented a cheque for $2,000. Another $2,000 came from the MacKay Trust Fund. Eskrick requires accessibility features that are beyond the accessible building code due to the space requirements of his specialized chair and his personal support needs. He was able to move to the new apartment in December, 2010. "We have one other specialized case that is in need in the Municipality of Kincardine," said Christine MacDonald, operations manager of Bruce County Housing. Kirkconnell said the residential development was a good project to help clean up the corner. "It was commercial and we changed it to residential," he said. "It's all on one level which makes it accessible for seniors too." He has another project on the go, turning the former Kincardine Christian Reformed Church on Queen Street into six units. "I'm trying to shoot for rental units at $750 to $850 per month," he said. "That's what Kincardine needs. They'll be air-conditioned and with all new appliances."
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He said the old church has a wheelchair ramp so two units will be handicapped-accessible. Construction on this project began Jan. 4, and he expects it to be done by April 1. Susan Earle, manager of housing services at Bruce County Housing, said there is a shortage of accessible units in Kincardine. "We're happy to have Jason Kirkconnell help us out with this project," she said. "This one is under a rent-supplement program. The private landowner partners with us. The tenant pays based on his income and Bruce County Housing tops that up." She said the agency is planning to hold a Builders and Developers Forum in late March to encourage those professionals to explain what is holding them back from building more affordable rental units. "We want them to tell us what the county can do, what lower-tier municipalities can do, and what planners can do to help them build these projects," she said. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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