An official opening won’t be held until the spring, but the affordable housing project in Wiarton is done and in fact the six rental apartments are full.
Chair of the Board of Directors at Miracle Place, Wiarton, Paul Kastner says everyone moved in before Christmas and there are 13 people and 7 cats in the facility on Charles street.
The 900 thousand dollar project is five years in the making.
Kastner says the idea was talked about by Captain Mary Millar of the Salvation Army Centre, Wiarton and 3 years ago the independent board was set up.
Just over 400 thousand dollars in Federal and Provincial money helped develop the rental apartment building, and Kastner says they took out a 40 year, 385 thousand dollar mortage.
Rental rates are offered at roughly 20 percent below the market rate for the area.
As far as the next step, Paul Kastner says CMHC and the province wanted to hold an official opening outdoors on the property, so it will be next May.
Meanwhile, he says when the board meets in January they’ll likely discuss the idea of a second affordable housing project.
Kastner says the need is there, but whether the board of directors at Miracle place wants to get involved in another project remains up in the air.
