Empty factory to be revived by Homestead

Harvey Woods would be great as multi-unit residential apartment

By Mark Schadenberg

What to do with an empty church and a former sock factory?

In Woodstock, it’s all about conversion into apartment buildings. Revive the mortar and renovate. Create some residential yield from a brownfield building.

On Winniett Street locally there is now a multi-unit apartment, which I’m sure includes low-income residences, inside a previous church.

Just three blocks away on Dundas Street, the old Paquette hosiery factory has been converted also.

Next on the list will be 18 VanSittart Avenue, which about 20 years ago closed over there (where?) under the name of a Harvey Woods (Just made you say underwear) plant. There was a time – I believe -- when Harvey Woods had five locations in Woodstock.

Coming to the rescue of 18 VanAve is Homestead Christian Care (HCC; www.homesteadchristiancare.ca) to add walls, bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms to evolve into 80 units with many for low income or fixed income residents.

Michael Harding member of delegation

Last month, re-surfacing was former Woodstock mayor Michael Harding, who is a key figure in this HCC project, and he was part of a delegation at city council to gain approval for a zoning change.

The motion was granted.

HCC is a Hamilton-based company, but already has a strong foot-hold in Woodstock as the developer of the Blossom Park Road facility off Devonshire Avenue.

Watching city council on TV, you could see Harding’s enthusiasm that this structure will be revitalized and also remembered as the ‘old maple’ hardwood flooring will be re-surfaced.

It’s expected that the first phase of construction will begin late this spring and include as many as 54 one-bedroom apartments with 2014 occupancy. The next and final phase would include 26 more units. The average apartment, according to a story in The Woodstock Sentinel-Review, would be less than 600 sq ft.

Central Woodstock & Downtown

The story added that the demand exists for this type of urban and central Woodstock housing.

“In the county, there’s an absolute decline in one-bedroom units period. People living on disability are spending more than half, 60 per cent of their income just paying for housing,” Harding said in The Sentinel bit by Tara Bowie.

The estimated cost of renting a one-bedroom unit at the HCC building will be $479 per month – well below the average of $762 for market value one-bedroom unit.

After a visit to Woodstock council, the HCC contingent crossed the street to Oxford County council to receive their blessing and dollars for available county funding for geared-to-income residences.

That motion also passed with the county apparently agreeing to contribute $200,000 annually, according to a story reported on Heart-FM (104.7 FM). The report added that provincial and federal monies would also be allocated to this project.

Motto: Homestead Christian Care creates affordable housing communities that support people seeking health, wellness and belonging.

 http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2013/02/19/proposed-development-for-woodstocks-former-harvey-woods-building-moving-forward

Mark Schadenberg

Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

Woodstock, Ont

(519) 537-1553

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com