Dear Editor:
The few people who have shown to be in favour of the Banks Crescent development appear to have based their support on the notion of it bringing jobs and seniors housing to Summerland.
For many seniors, housing means ‘affordable housing’ and there can be confusion around independent living, assisted living and subsidized living.
The Lark Group Icasa Lakeview Living Resort advertising $400,000 “luxury Lakeview residences, exclusive independent living suites and assisted living casas with concierge services” is a far cry from seniors affordability as the development is all private pay.
A news article last week from Interior Heath states that “93 per cent of seniors care homes were understaffed and below the ministry threshold of hours of care per patient and that the staffing crisis is only getting worse”
Where will the local health resources come from to support the additional 390 (minimum) residents of this development including the 150 assisted living and memory care residents, when two doctors are closing their businesses this year and the remaining practices not accepting new patients including the walk-in clinic?
The St Elizabeth staff may not have hospital admitting privileges and most seniors will end up calling 911.
Lark’s literature and iCasa website state there will be 75 to 100 new jobs brought to Summerland.
As most of these jobs will be $16 per hour care aides and support worker positions for the two care facilities how will they be able to live in Summerland with lack of affordable housing?
If the two care facilities are “only built depending on community needs” as stated by Lark at their December open house, these jobs may not materialize for many years and even the temporary construction workers for the luxury condos won’t be able to afford to live in Summerland
Last May, Gary Tamblyn, owner of the property stated at their open house that “all the Summerland seniors facilities were filled to capacity.”
In fact one entire wing of Summerland Seniors village is empty. With currently more than 25 ‘over 55’ communities in Summerland, and more than eight other assisted living, residential care facilities do we want Summerland to become a ‘seniors’ destination with a new luxury seniors condo development or a destination for young families to live in who will support our local schools and businesses?
These “alternative facts” seem to be the new normal since the U.S. inauguration but the residents of Summerland are smart and will make their decisions based on real facts.
Diana Smith
Summerland