RM of Springfield slashes fees for Dugald Place

by GREG VANDERMEULEN

The RM of Springfield announced a reduction in development fees and levies for Dugald Place, a planned new $15 million, 50-unit assisted living residence in Dugald.

“The RM of Springfield is proud to partner with Dugald Place to create quality housing for Springfield seniors that will also create 10 new jobs,” Mayor Tiffany Fell said in a press release. “This major stimulus project is moving ahead despite an economic downturn due the pandemic.”

With plans to start construction in 2021, Dugald Place will be a three-storey mix of eight studio and 42 one-bedroom units designed to provide community style living and bright spacious suites with weekly light housekeeping and recreation services.

The main floor will include a full-service kitchen and dining area, fitness centre, café, bar, theatre and games rooms. They also hope to attract an on-site satellite pharmacy/medical clinic.

Dugald Place Non-Profit Housing Co-op cochair Lesley Thomson said the investment by the RM is very welcome.

The reduction in fees and levies will save Dugald Place about $550,000.

“It takes over half a million off our construction budget,” Thomson said. “It demonstrates to other levels of government we have a solid partner in the RM.”

A social media campaign is planned, using video from the many amenities currently available at Dugald Estates.

The RM of Springfield has invested in the concept before, beginning with the 2015 opening of the 47-unit Dugald Estates. That facility was built by the Springfield Seniors Non-Profit Housing Co-op at a cost of $14.5 million.

To help accommodate both projects the RM of Springfield invested $2.15 million in local water system upgrades to ensure the new building would be fully sprinklered. That cost was shared with provincial and federal funds.

They also donated 3.8 acres to Dugald Estates and a further .75 acres to allow Dugald Place to be built next door.

The 2015 $280,000 extension of Jaffray Street was also done to accommodate the projects.

Mayor Fell said the facilities are important. “We have a very large senior operation that is expanding and ideally I’d like to have a group of facilities in Springfield where people can age in place,” she said.

Fell said the original Dugald Estates has proven to be a great addition to the community and the RM.

“It’s a beautiful facility,” she said. “There’s so many long term residents of Springfield that have moved into that building.”

Construction on Dugald Place is expected to begin in 2021.

For now the committee is planning a social media campaign which will include video of Dugald Estates.

At this point 44 people have already made a $1,000 deposit to be on the waitlist.

A fundraising campaign is also being planned.

For more information go to www.dugaldplace.com.