“I suggested that it be in Hawkesbury,” said Yan Raymond, one of the consulting members for the development outfit, during a June 18 phone interview. “More land, and beautiful waterfront (location).”
Sylvie Raymond and her sons, Yan Raymond and Maxime Sévigny, are working together on the proposed multi-storey senior living project. They have an agreement-in-principle with the Town of Hawkesbury for purchase of the Christ-Roi property, which belongs to the municipality, and are now working on the site plan proposal and other planning documentation needed to satisfy town council and administration and guarantee groundbreaking on the project next spring.
Sylvie Raymond is the project leader at present until all the development planning is completed and construction can begin on the project. Once that is accomplished, her sons, Yan and Maxime, will take over responsibility for seeing the project to completion.
Concept plan
The proposal is for a 251-unit seniors living condominium, with 200 units designed for autonomous and semi-autonomous living, and 51 care units for residents who need some form of nursing care support. The autonomous and semi-autonomous units would include a mix of large studio, single- and two-bedroom apartments.
The concept design for the Résidence Hawkesbury project is for two apartment towers of 10 storeys each, plus the main floor area, flanking a single-storey centre block building. The tower apartments would house the 200 autonomous and semi-autonomous units, while the centre block building would have the care assistance units.
Other amenities planned for the development include underground parking, an indoor pool, a small gym, bowling alley, movie theatre, various indoor and outdoor game facilities, a hairdresser, café, and pharmacy. The facility would also have a 24-hour nursing service and an on-call doctor for support of residents in the care unit section of the building.
Project proposal
Résidence Hawkesbury is the working title for the project for now. The estimated development cost is between $40 million and $50 million.
The town will let the Raymond family have the former Christ-Roi property for a dollar with two conditions attached. First is there has to be a “major development” on the site, and the second is that the development must be done within a four-year period.
“It’s a big job to do,” said Sylvie Raymond, “but it will be done as soon as possible.” Raymond is also pleased at having a Hawkesbury location for the project, something which has become a very personal project for her.
“Who doesn’t dream of being on the waterfront?” said the sexagenarian. “I’ll be wanting to go there myself, because there will be security. It will be a place to live and socialize. To me, that’s the most important thing.”
“We want to build a great place for (senior) living,” said Yan Raymond. “It’s important to finish your life in a good place.”
