I note that Scott Broderick, who was just selected by the bureaucrats at Delta city hall to sit on the Seniors’ Advisory Committee, has formed a group to advocate to have the council purchase the eastern half of Paterson Park and use it for yet another park.
Let’s take a serious look at the real use for this property, if council made the logical decision to buy it. The whole world knows that location, location, location is what makes any property great for a specific use. Be it condos, race track, or seniors’ residences and walking paths for outings.
The crying need in South Delta for seniors is to be allowed to stay in the community they have been so much a part of for so many years. We seem to run into roadblocks of major proportions when we look for places that fit our needs and still allow us to be in a hub which can provide the services seniors not only need but absolutely require.
Now let’s take that serious look at the Paterson Park location.
It provides easy access to all medical facilities, i.e. hospital, clinics, medical specialists, ambulance services as well as the hospice,
It provides easy access to transportation (transit).
It provides easy access to the municipal swimming pool and exercise facilities for those seniors who are able to use the community centre.
It provides easy access to Delta Municipal Hall.
The municipality already owns the west side of the park, so no additional costs are involved in designating this “for seniors residence only.”
If council can continually provide land for parks and recreation facilities for the younger generations, then I believe it can provide this property for seniors’ residences as an investment in the people who built the community in the first place.
If the Seniors Advisory Committee needs a project to recommend to council, then let them suggest that the design for a major seniors’ complex could be called for from developers. The developers would be advised that these estimates should not include the cost of the land as it would remain the property of the municipality. The complex should consist of three or four highrise units joined together on the main floor and each condo would be approximately 1,150 square feet. The units would be sold to seniors only and would be kept reasonably priced because there would be no land costs. In effect the “land” would be similar to TFN leasing land to non-nation people.
I understand that McKee House in Ladner is at its capacity. This would be the ideal place to establish a newer larger centre to replace the existing McKee House.
Don Browning
North Delta