DSI Tandem Co-op Resources has guided us for more than four years on the technical and regulatory aspects of creating our co-op. This year, DSI has been nominated by the Co-op Housing Development Group and will receive a Cooperative Achievement award from Manitoba Cooperative Association. More>>
In March 2017, the Manitoba Community Services Council approved a $9,000 grant to Old Grace Housing Co-operative. The Council provides grants to non-profit community organizations throughout Manitoba.
The grant will be used to purchase appliances for OGHC’s common area.
OGHC wishes to thank the Council for this support. The grant will assist the Co-op in the purchase of the following appliances for the common area kitchen.
OGHC also wishes to thank the members who prepared and submitted the grant application to the Council.
The hard work of various OGHC members has paid off in recent weeks. We have recently received confirmation of funding from both the Government of Canada and the City of Winnipeg.
In January, the federal Employment and Social Development Department (ESD) informed OGHC that our application to the Enabling Accessibility Fund had been approved. OGHC will receive $24,980 to help pay for the installation of a vertical hydraulic wheelchair lift. The total cost of the lift and installation will be about is $42,000. The lift will be located at the south end of the Arlington wing at the entrance from the parking lot. It will enable people in wheelchairs to travel indoors from the parking lot to the main elevator. Thank you to ESD minister Jean-Yves Duclos and the OGHC members who devoted considerable time to the preparation of the application for this grant.
On January 20, 2017, the City Centre Community Committee of the City of Winnipeg approved a $15,000 Community Incentive Grant, funded from the Daniel McIntyre allocation, to be used for OGHC perimeter landscaping. OGHC’s planting will include 24 trees, 80 shrubs, and 23 varieties of grasses and vines. The total cost for the perimeter landscaping will be approximately $137,000, including paving and the plant of 24 trees, 80 shrubs, and over 300 perennials, grasses, and vines.
Thank you to City Councillor Cindy Gilroy, and to all the OGHC members who wrote letters of support of our application and who attended the committee meeting.
Pile driving is now complete at the Old Grace Housing Co-operative site and the pile-driving equipment has been removed.
The Co-op wishes to apologize for the early-morning noise created on the day the pile-driving equipment was delivered and on the day it departed.
Moving these very large pieces of equipment can create a severe traffic disruption. For that reason, their movement is restricted to the hours of 5 and 7 in the morning and governed by a special permit and a police escort.
We sincerely thank our neighbours for your patience during this important stage of our construction.
Please use the following form to email your concerns to us.
(Winnipeg) After more than four years of planning, shovels are in the ground today at the site of Old Grace Housing Co-operative (OGHC) in Wolseley. The first residents of the 60-suite complex will move into their new homes in early 2018.
The $15.8 million project includes a mix of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom units, well-designed common areas and professional landscaping. Co-op President Sandra Hardy noted “The co-op has a very strong commitment to environmental sustainability, and in addition to being a registered Manitoba Hydro PowerSmart project, we are striving for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold.” The construction project is expected to generate a total economic impact of $21.8 million including 120 person-years of direct and indirect employment. (Click here for full text of speech.)
Thirty of the 60 suites are reserved for households qualifying under the Province’s Affordable Housing Rental Program. Six fully accessible units are planned and the parking, service and common areas, and grounds will be fully accessible. Two Peg City Car Co-op vehicles will be available on site and members will have ample secure bicycle parking.
As an inter-generational, mixed-income, co-operative, OGHC will fill a significant gap in the housing market . Hardy credited the Province of Manitoba and Assiniboine Credit Union for supporting the co-op’s vision and making the financing of the co-op possible. “Without their support and guidance, we would have not been able to get this off the drawing board.”
“Today, the OGHC’s vision for sustainable and diverse housing in Wolseley is one step closer to reality, and we are proud to be a partner in this exciting project,” said Manitoba Families Minister Scott Fielding. “Our Government recognizes that quality, affordable housing is a priority for Manitoba families and seniors, and this complex will be an important part of the community for years to come.”
Bill Dinsdale, Community Account Manager for Assiniboine Credit Union echoed the importance of the inclusion of 30 affordable suites. “Assiniboine Credit Union is proud to be the financial partner of choice for Old Grace Housing Co-op. This co-op will fill a vital need in our community, and is a perfect fit for ACU’s affordable housing financing strategy.”
Blair Hamilton, Manitoba Program Manager for the Cooperative Housing Federation welcomed OGHC into the family of 900 non-profit housing co-ops across the country. “The members of Old Grace are to be congratulated on their principled approach. Through their intense work, this innovative model bodes well for the future of the housing co-ops in Manitoba and across Canada.”
“The drive and commitment of the co-op’s members, coupled with the enthusiasm and expertise of our consulting team have enabled us to reach today’s milestone, Hardy said.”
Hardy gave a special thank you to the Wolseley Residents’ Association, local businesses, and not-for-profit organizations that have worked with the co-op over the past years. “All along, they appreciated that a co-op would make an important contribution to the neighbourhood.”
Cynthia Neudoerffer, President of the Wolseley Resident’s Association said, “The WRA is thrilled to officially welcome the Old Grace Housing Co-operative into the Wolseley community. Throughout the years to get to this day, co-op members have actively engaged with our organization and other neighbours to ensure that their vision aligns with that of the greater community. We look forward to watching the construction over the coming months and welcoming new and old friends to the co-op and to Wolseley.”
Joining Hardy, Fielding, Dinsdale, Hamilton and Neudoerffer at the sod turning event was Aaron Russin of Peg City Co-op; and the design and construction team: Concord Projects, construction contractor; Prairie Architects; DSI Tandem Co-op Consultants; and HTFC Planning and Landscape Design.
In closing, Hardy added, “Today marks the beginning of the move from concept to concrete. And I think I can speak for the rest of the board, all our members, and our community supporters when I say today marks a very exciting milestone for us.”
(Photos by Arne MacPherson.)
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