Abbeyfield House buys building in Lakefield for seniors housing
LAKEFIELD — Abbeyfield House Society of Lakefield, a group that has been looking for years for a property in the village to develop affordable co-housing for seniors, has finally purchased a place.
Abbeyfield bought a house on four acres at 93 Ermatinger St. in Lakefield, the group announced Thursday.
The closing date was Jan. 29. The house has long been in the Heffernan family; the family business, Heffernan Electric, has been operating in the Lakefield area since 1958.
The Heffernans reached out to Abbeyfield after the group asked Selwyn Township council in July to consider donating two acres of land in Isabel Morris Park for co-housing.
The request was turned down, but it prompted the Heffernans to consider selling their home — which has been in the family for nearly 40 years — to Abbeyfield.
“The family really liked the idea that the next stage of use for their family homestead would serve to help seniors in Lakefield,” states a press release from the group, which is headed by former township mayoral candidate Ron Black.
In Abbeyfield houses, up to 14 seniors — usually aged 70 or older — each occupy a private room with its own bathroom in a large house.
A live-in house co-ordinator looks after the grocery shopping as well as preparing and serving lunch and dinner in a common dining room.
Maintenance and administration is done by a volunteer board of directors, which means the cost to live there is generally less than a regular retirement home.
Houses are owned and operated by each local Abbeyfield Society (which is made up of volunteer board members). The local societies manage the money; they’re accountable to the residents.
Plans are being made now to develop an Abbeyfield House on the property, the release states, with a new fundraising campaign to come.
Currently the house is being rented out while Abbeyfield makes further plans, the release states.
Abbeyfield’s website is at abbeyfieldlakefield.ca.