Model Apartment Unit Under Construction in Harvey Woods Building

Thursday, 30 May 2013 at 11:22

If you were ever curious about what it's like inside the old Harvey Woods building, after sitting vacant for 2-decades, you're about to get your chance. On June 8th, Homestead Christian Care is opening up the building to the public for an open house. Workers have been busy cleaning up the interior, and Homestead Director of Projects and Development, Graham Cubitt says this week volunteers, including help and supplies from Home Depot in Woodstock have started to build a model unit (in top photo). "For a lot of people, they like to see something physical in order to imaging the space becoming housing. It's going to be quite a transformation. So by building a model suite we'll be able to actually show what it's going to look like in the end." One of those volunteers putting up the framing on the model unit Wednesday, was Woodstock resident Henry Kleinenberg. "As it turns out, there's lots of work to do here in Woodstock, so we volunteered for Homestead homes. We did a new kitchen up in the old building last year (Blossom Park), and Graham was kind enough to invite us again for this time." Heart FM got an inside look at the rest of the renos, which are very extensive. Former Woodstock Mayor Michael Harding, who is now spearheading the fundraising campaign on the project, says single bedroom affordable housing units are a scarcity, and badly needed in Woodstock. "Many people who are disabled, and that's who's going to be in this building, are playing 50-70% of their income just to put a roof over their heads. They're having to choose between food and rent. This would be the first time such a large facility is available to this target audience. It's going to be very needed, and it's going to be filled very quickly." In fact, Homestead has already been fielding calls and inquiries from those interested in the units. Construction on 40-units is able to proceed outside of an Ontario Municipal Board appeal on the zone change for the property. The remaining 15 units in phase 1 and 26 units from phase 2 will be subject to the OMB appeal from neighbours.