If all goes according to plan, shovels are expected to break ground this spring in the redevelopment of Huntsville’s only not-for-profit long-term nursing home.
Redevelopment plan for the 67-year-old home
Plans are underway to replace the current Fairvern Nursing Home, a 67-year-old building, with a new one at an estimated cost of $20 million. Rob Laver, board chair for Fairvern, said the application for the redevelopment of Fairvern was submitted last year to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The board is now awaiting a green light to begin construction. Asked if the new building will be located on the same grounds, Laver said, “that’s our plan at this point.”
He said the idea is to redevelop on the existing property while maintaining the current home until the new build is complete at which time the residents will move into the new building.
“That will leave the old building empty and we’re planning on converting it into some sort of supportive housing.” Laver said plans for the existing building have not been firmed up yet but the board is working on the issue with the District of Muskoka to come up with some sort of community-based housing that serves the population. He said it could also be an extension of services offered by Fairvern, but added that the existing building will likely need to be gutted.
Hospital issue controversial
When asked about speculations that the new building could be co-located under a campus of care umbrella on lands surrounding Huntsville’s hospital, Laver was careful in his response, noting the hospital issue is a very political one at the moment.
We’re on a piece of property that we own. We have gas, sewer and water on the property. Our volunteers can walk in; our residents who are ambulatory can walk downtown. Memorial gardens, memorial trees, it’s a great location for us so why would we move? Rob Laver, chair of the board of Fairvern
“If we were offered a piece of property with all of those amenities – water, gas, sewer and a deed – I mean we’d have to look pretty hard at that, wouldn’t we?”
Laver also noted that timing is important. He said running the existing building is costing more than a new building would cost to operate and, being a not-for-profit, that’s money the nursing home could be reinvesting into programming.
“We could be starting this build in a matter of months if things move along quickly and, you know, honestly, I’m not sure what’s going to happen with the hospital.”
A little bit about Fairvern
There are currently 76 residents in the home with a waiting list of 40 to 50 people at any given time. Laver said the residents come from Lake of Bays, Huntsville and communities both north and south on Highway 11, such as Kearney, Burk’s Falls, the Magnetawan area, Port Sydney, south of Port Sydney, and Utterson. He also said Fairvern serves as a home to people who retire to their cottage and bring their elderly parents along. The new building has been approved for the same number of beds. (The redevelopment committee had planned to request 100 beds. Read Doppler’s earlier story here: Fairvern Nursing Home will decide soon where redevelopment will occur)
The majority of Fairvern’s funding comes from the province, supplemented by Fairvern’s fundraising efforts such as the annual Paddle for Fairvern event and donations from the community. Some residents pay to be housed there depending on their financial ability – they undergo income testing which is regulated by the province.
Laver explained that there are a series of doctors who visit the home on a regular basis to care for acute patients. There are also nurses on staff.
“I think this’ll be a big year for Fairvern,” said Laver who is anxiously waiting to hear from the province.
What a difference between the Fairvern Board of Directors and the MAHC! One produces a good feeling and the other, total disgust! Kudos to Mr. Laver and the staff at Fairvern for a great thought process, patience, and overall common sense with regard to both costs and patients!! The fact that this board is composed of volunteers whose obvious leadership is evident, is very comforting to those of us who live here. Hopefully, the old Fairvern building could be, as stated, converted into some sort of supportive housing or community based services rather than having to be gutted and demolished. Huntsville and surrounding areas have long been very supportive for fund raising, and internal necessary upgrading and repair of the existing Fairvern could be a possibility in the near future!!
Congratulations to the Fairvern Board of Directors for hanging in and seeing this process come together, its been worth the wait! It’s important to note that board members are volunteers who give of their time and expertise generously. I know the new Fairvern will be a wonderful place because of the leadership, the volunteers and the caring staff employed there. Congratulations; this is great news!
It’s a shame that the existing Fairvern building has deteriorated to the point that it has to be gutted. The original redevelopment plan was to construct seniors’ apartments/condominiums on the land now required for the “new” Fairvern. As required, an increasing portion of this facility would become a nursing home. In the interim, the occasional nurse/doctor capability would be available on site. Preliminary plans for a fully accessible building were produced and this alternative was costed.
To proceed in this fashion at this time would require that the existing building be razed; with the seniors’ facility replacing it. As the riverfront location (location, location) was the prime attraction of the original plan, this new iteration would have to be priced more moderately.