Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance have announced a partnership with Revera Canada that will see the alliance enter into a long-term land/lease agreement to allow Revera to build a 128-bed long-term care home on the former Avon Crest hospital property.
Revera assessed various redevelopment options before deciding to build new, across the street from Stratford General Hospital. The company was awarded licenses for additional beds from the provincial government to expand Hillside Manor, which currently has 90 licensed beds and is located near Sebringville.
Andrew Williams, HPHA President/CEO, told StratfordToday there is a real need in the community for long-term care beds. He called the project transformative and aligned with the primary accountability of the HPHA to provide local, high quality, accessible health care.
"There are lots of steps yet to take but we feel comfortable announcing this to the community, it is appropriate at this point in time and we are really looking forward to working on the planning and making this a reality," Williams said.
Avon Crest, Stratford's first hospital, has not been used for years and has fallen into disrepair. A decision was made by the healthcare alliance to tender the property for demolition.
HPHA announced the Revera project Monday afternoon. Stratford city councillor Cody Sebben is scheduled to put forward a motion Monday night at city council to designate the historic hospital as a heritage building.
Williams said the alliance will have a delegation in attendance at city hall.
Coun. Sebben told StratfordToday recently that the building meets the criteria for heritage designation in Stratford and deserves a fresh look by the new council, which is made up of a majority of new councillors.
Save Avon Crest, a local heritage preservation group, wants the hospital, which opened in 1891, repurposed and reused.
"This is an important heritage building, it is an important piece of Canadian architecture, an important piece of Canadian hospital architecture," spokesperson Howard Shubert, an architectural historian, author and former curator at the Canadian Centre for Architecture, told StratfordToday last month.
The group includes a steering committee, including an architect, lawyer, a planner and others with historical interests. Save Avon Crest amassed a petition, met with community groups, started a website (http://saveavoncrest.ca), and visited the local public high school to discuss their efforts.
They also discussed saving the property with elected officials.
"The goal has always been to raise awareness and change opinions," Shubert said.
Williams has said fixing up the building to a workable condition would cost millions and demolishing the building is the correct business decision.
"We have said throughout any conversations dealing with the property that we want to turn that piece of land into something for the community that helps with health and wellness. We feel this is a wonderful example of that."
Williams said the lack of long-term care beds results in patients staying in hospital for "far too long".
"This chronic situation leads to longer wait times for other patients requiring hospital services."
The president/CEO said once government approvals are secured, the agreement with Revera will create increased local capacity while improving hospital care by freeing up beds for patients waiting for surgeries or admission in the emergency department.
Tenders for demolition close this week and assuming there are no issues that come up, and final approvals are secured, demolition of the property could start in late spring or early summer, Williams said.
"The actual development in terms of long-term care is a whole other process unto its own. It will take some time before we have shovels in the ground for a new build."
“With its proximity to the hospital and to local amenities, this is an ideal location to renew Hillside Manor to support the needs of current and future generations of local seniors,” said JP Cadeau, president, Revera Canada.
The new facility will also create new employment opportunities during construction and once it is open, he said.
Williams said the announcement will help ensure city council and other interested parties are up to speed on the alliance's plans for the property.
"We are comfortable announcing today that these developments are in the works. We are confident enough to announce it publicly. We don’t expect any issues to come up. But there are a lot ot things still to do."
"We felt with the visibility that this is having in the community now, the fact we are going back to council tonight to discuss the heritage situation, we really wanted all of our cards on the table so people are aware what is going on and what conversations are taking place. We have said all along…we want to leverage that land into something that brings value to this community from a health and wellness perspective. This certainly does that in our view."
- with files from Connor Luczka/StratfordToday
