LoveSong housing development pleased with summer progress

Pictured under the new steel roof donated by Picton Home Hardware, are: Bay of Quinte MP Neil Ellis, Adam Busscher, of Home Hardware, Andy Spry, development manager and board members Donna Rodgers and Ken How.

The LoveSong Seniors Housing and Community Hub announced major progress over the summer as the redevelopment of Pinecrest elementary school continues, to create a community of 50 affordable housing units for seniors.

The independent non-profit housing project is spearheaded by Emmanuel Baptist Church in Bloomfield and volunteers from Prince Edward County. LoveSong purchased the former school from the municipality for $375,000, which had purchased it from the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board after it had been deemed surplus four years ago.

Over the summer, housing team members, including Donna Rodgers, John Uings, Paul Robinson, Ken How, Andy Spry, and others, helped clear the school of blackboards, cupboards and other fixtures during several giveaway events with donations accepted toward the project.

“The renovation got a huge boost by a team of five student summer workers funded by the Federal Government Canada Summer Jobs Program,” said Rodgers, a volunteer board member. “The workers spent 1,300 hours clearing out the building in preparation for the next stage of renovating the classrooms into 50 affordable co-housing units.”

A new red steel roof on the community pavillion was donated by Adam Busscher, of Picton Home Hardware and installed by Harlan and Dominick of Brough Roofing.

Rodgers notes LoveSong was also successful in its application for federal SEED funding from Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

“These funds will assist in obtaining the required completion of the design drawings which include a commercial kitchen, medical and or office centre, and community hub for recreation and sports, which will be open to the public. This will be stage one of multiple phases of buildings on the 20-acre property.”

Rodgers notes that under the management of Springale Development, great care is being taken to employ a low carbon footprint by installing energy efficient solar power and gray water recovery, all in an attempt to implement the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) in the adaptive reuse project.

Project organizers are hopeful the project’s first stage will be complete near the end of 2022. For more information, visit lovesonghousing.org