Dilapidated Observatory old-age home to be rebuilt

WE ARE CONSTRUCTING A NEW BUILDING WITH NEW FEATURES

ARCADIA Place old-age home has been a pillar in Observatory for the past 60 years, but the building has fallen into a state of disrepair, and has been scheduled for demolition.

The building, constructed in 1957, is owned by non-profit organisation Cape Peninsula Organisation for the Aged and is home to 166 residents. However, in December the organisation informed its residents that the building posed a health and safety risk and would have to be demolished.

The organisation’s spokesperson Ingrid Jacobs said relocations would not take place this year, but once this happened, residents would be moved to the organisation’s other homes while Arcadia Place gets rebuilt.

“We are constructing a completely new building with some new features, and the building could even end up accommodating more people than now.

“They (residents) were informed about relocating and that nothing will happen in 2018. We have stopped admissions to Arcadia, assuring that all our residents will be taken care of,” said Jacobs.

Construction on the new building is expected to start in 2019. The land has been subdivided, and half of the original plot will be sold and the new Acadia Place will be built on the other.

Jacobs said the organisation had assured all Acacia Place residents that secure accommodation at its other facilities would be found.