Details of an ambitious building plan involving a permanent home for youth mental health and addictions services and housing for seniors are expected to be released soon.
They’ll emerge as the Terrace and District Community Services Society (TDCSS) starts a drive to raise money for the youth Foundry service and for senior housing.
TDCSS received a development permit from the city last fall to build a five-storey structure on the lot it owns immediately beside its current building on the corner of Lazelle and Eby, envisioning the Foundry on the main floor and 43 one-bedroom apartments on the upper floors.
Parallel to the permit being issued was a proposal submitted to the provincial government’s BC Housing agency for money for the housing component of the plan.
There will be a building as planned and whether it will have both the Foundry and a housing component remains under consideration as BC Housing is still evaluating proposals, says TDCSS executive director Michael McFetridge.
“TDCSS’s mission is to work with our partners and identify community needs and develop innovative service that enhance the lives of the people we serve,” he said.
“Affordable senior housing downtown right across from the mall, the service centre, and the Park Street medical clinic is really something we’d like to provide for our community.”
The city welcomed the proposal last fall in granting the development permit, citing affordable housing for seniors as important for local residents.
The Foundry youth service is now located temporarily in the TDCSS main building and opened last year, one of a network that now numbers 11 locations across the province. Eight more are planned.
TDCSS is the lead sponsor of Foundry in Terrace with the intent of providing a central location for mental health and addictions service for young people between the age of 12 and 24.
