Developer Floats Plans for seniors complex

Jeff Green | Apr 01, 2010

A company based in Sault St. Marie is planning to transport an out-of-commission Great Lakes barge to Frontenac County and convert it to a seniors’ housing complex.

The plan, which is still in its early stages and will need to clear a Class 5 Environmental impact study, and a separate study concerning septic requirements, was presented in preliminary form at a Central Frontenac Council meeting last week.

“The shipping business is not what it used to be,” said Gerry Westheim, the project proponent.

Westheim, a real estate developer from Sault St. Marie, said he hopes to transport a

405’ long by 35’ wide barge, The Ruby Star, to a shipyard in Toronto, where it will be disassembled for dry land transport to Sharbot Lake.

“We have specially trained crews to do this work, and it will take three weeks to put the boat back together at its new home.”

Westheim’s plan is to permanently moor the boat in the west basin of Sharbot Lake, near the government dock, and then hire local contractors to build one and two bedroom seniors’ apartments on the deck of the barge.

“I have experience with this kind of project in the Netherlands and thought it would work just as well in Lake Country, where there is a shortage of waterfront property but no shortage of water,” he said.

Tentative plans are for a three-storey modular complex, on the model of the Habitat housing complex in Montreal.

He said he hopes to have 100 – 150 units available for lease or purchase within three years, but members of Central Frontenac Council said there would be zoning requirements to deal with first.

“I’m supportive of this idea,” said the Mayor. “It could be the kind of boon Central Frontenac needs, but we must go slow. Planning for this will be difficult because it is unprecedented.”

The township planner said “barge developments of this sort are not contemplated in the township’s Official Plan. There is no reference to anything like it, so it will require extensive study by all commenting agencies, not only the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority but perhaps Fisheries and Oceans as well.”

Westheim said that special aquaculture techniques and materials will make the barge a boon rather than a hindrance to the Sharbot Lake fish population.

As well, a separate, smaller barge, will be brought in as a kind of floating septic holding tank, which will be emptied monthly in a secure, on shore, environment.

“There is no chance that the lake will be compromised,” he said.

The Mayor talked about the benefits of this project for the local economy.

“Not only will the tax base be expanded, but the barge will be located only steps away from local facilities, and it will provide an opportunity for lakeside living for a new cohort of people,” he said.

“It is a stress free way for people to enjoy the water,” Westheim said. “The complex will also include a health club, shuffle board, and swimming opportunities.”

The project is targeted at a group that Westheim described as the “moderately wealthy”, with condominium units selling from $150,000 and up. Westheim said that he has also been in contact with public housing officials locally and in Kingston to explore the possibility of a public housing component to the project provided provincial construction grants are available.

Waterfront property owners on the west basin of Sharbot Lake got wind of the proposal the day before the council meeting and a small delegation was on hand.

“We think this is a dangerous proposal which would set a terrible precedent,” said Sharbot Lake Property Owner’s Association (SLPOA) Past President Earl McRary. “The impact on the lake of hundreds of new people alone will be staggering, and what of the winter ice. What if these people get stuck on the water and can’t get off.”

Gerry Westheim said the barge would be entirely stable and would be able to withstand the four seasons, and would be environmentally benign.

“This is a green project, using the latest, tested technologically. It is a LEAD project,” Wesheim said

“I don’t think the township should agree to putting seniors on barges,” McRary countered, saying that the project will be opposed “at every turn” by the SLPOA.

Undaunted, Westheim said he will be preparing applications for zoning bylaw and official plan amendments and will be contacting all the relevant authorities in the near future.

“We will meet or exceed all zoning and environmental requirements,” he said.

“We should not be putting the elderly onto barges,” said Mcrary, shaking his head.