Senior ‘active lifestyle community’ proposed next to Welland Canal
Developer Estates of Niagara hopes to break ground on 105-unit building by early 2024
A 105-unit, five-storey development geared toward older adults who want to “age in place” and own their apartments is being planned at the corner of Queenston Street and Welland Canals Parkway in St. Catharines.
The proposed membership community, WaterView Estates and Wellness Suites, would feature both independent, assisted and enhanced assisted living units for seniors.
Angela Kelly, chief operating officer of developer Estates of Niagara, said the company is expecting site plan approval in the next two months and construction to begin at the end of this year or early 2024. Occupancy is anticipated to start in early 2025.
“It would be the most progressive, active lifestyle community in this area,” Kelly said.
“The whole concept of aging in place is the key deliverable on our priorities and our values for this project. It’s looking at how we can accommodate seniors in their early years and then, when life changes, the supports are there should they need them.”
The project at 518 Queenston St. was approved for minor variances by the city’s committee of adjustment in April.
It consists of a five-storey mixed residential and commercial building with a north and south wing that are connected with a building bridge in the centre. The development stretches along the west side of Welland Canals Parkway.
Kelly said the location should be desirable for a retired person with an active lifestyle.
“The paths, the biking, the walking trails, everything is right there,” she said, adding it’s also located between Niagara Falls and Niagaraon-the-Lake.
Kelly said the property’s concept, borrowed from a Florida model, is a membership-style ownership whereby people have access to a club for $99 that allows them to design how they want their retirement to look.
The membership gives them access to the properties, all of the amenities and “happy hours” with two-for-one drinks and meals.
Some amenities planned for the building include a rooftop terrace, five-star dining, a 24-hour bistro, medical clinic, spa, pharmacy, adult daycare and child daycare. There’s a plan for shuttle buses and a limousine to take people on daily activities out into the community and a family suite that can be used by visitors.
The suites will have full kitchens, but people can buy meal packages if they don’t want to cook or order just some meals, Kelly said.
“It’s almost like a hotel-style concierge where you can pick and choose what you want.”
The units will be 91.8 to 105.6 square metres (988 to 1,137 square feet), with pricing starting at mid-500s and to the mid-600s. There is also a Friendship Suite option for people who want to buy an apartment with a friend with separate bedrooms and common areas.
Kelly said there are two ownership options — an investor option for people who are interested in living in the community down the road but not right now and can lease out their unit. There’s also the option of the end user buying now, moving in and being part of the community from the start.
“There’s the end user right now who’s saying, ‘I’m 65. I want the social involvement, I want the activities. I want to be part of a likeminded community,’” she said.
“And then there’s the maybe 55- to 60-year-old that’s saying, ‘I’m not ready for that yet, but certainly feel that there might be some money to be made in that environment. I’ll lease out my unit for the next five to 10 years and when I am ready, I have it there when I need it,’” Kelly said.
Sales aren’t happening yet but people can find more information on the company website estatesofniagara.ca.
Estates of Niagara has a project on-the-go in Niagara Falls at 2626 Mewburn Rd., off Mountain Road, that is a completely independent, active lifestyle community. That project, Stoneridge Estates, is supposed to start construction in the fall.