42 - Wednesday, May 21, 1997 — North Shore News Norgate Hous NVD puils out of leasing arrangement By Deana Lancaster Contributing Wetter deana@usnews.com IT would have been a wonderful home for seniors and people with disabilities. Norgate House, a develap- Ment project designed to accommodate residents with special needs, was to be a 36- unit, low-rise apartment building at 16th and Bridgeman in North Vancouver, North Vancouver District, which owns the land, agreed to lease it, subject to finane- ing, to the Norgate House Society, The site was zoned for seniors, with eight additional units for persons with disabil- ities. The units were to be one bedroom each and would have rented for approxi- mately $850 per month. The homes included adaptable design features such as ‘adjustable-height coun- tertops and cabinets, water temperature regulation to prevent scalding and lever handles for all doors and faucets. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation named the project a winner in tts B.C. and Yukon FlexHousing Design competition, and.a finalist in the national competition last November. - Two weeks ago, the district pulled the rug out from under the society — a vol- unteer group including health-care pro- fessionals, lawyers, accountants and an engineer, The society received a letter, dated May &, which read: “ ‘The council reject the lease proposal with Norgate House Society for an innovative housing pro- ject,’ and [ thank you for your interest in this site.” It was signed by Donald Sigston, the district's manager of lands. The decision had been made in camera. Maureen McKeon Holmes, vice-pres- ident of the board of the B.C. MS Society and president of the Norgate House Society, said the rejection doesn’r make sense. “We were in the final stages of negoti- ation with the district — we were past the development permit stage, past negotia- ei tas 5 : Soar $77.1 million is spent each year on personal air travel and package tours by the North Shore residents, Ta reach this market of clabe tratters, place your ads where the readership is. NEW (o you ie A NEWS photo Cindy Goodman MEMBERS of the Norgate House Society — from left, Bryan Thirsk, John Third, Joftre Pomerleau, Bev Nielsen, Aucrey Viken end Maureen McKeon Holmes — are disappointed In North Vancouver District's decision to reject their seniors’ housing project in the final stages of negotiations. tions with the CMHC, the interest rates look good — we just had to go into a bank for the loan,” she said. But in the agreement with CMHC, there was a clause stating if the deal fell through, the responsibility would rest with the municipality. “We have an obligation to protect the taxpayers,” said District Coun. Ernie Crist. “The banks were nervous — we decided it was too shaky.” McKeon Holmes said the district’s fears were unfounded, She said since the project received CMHC approval, the banks would also approve a loan. And as If you're looking for preowned, retro of consignment merchandise this feature is for you! See Decision page V4 # you're looking for something fun to do this summer, hit the slopes. And ski hard. Or ride hard. And practice all those tricks you learned this winter, Because this summer, you can ski or ride Blackcomb as often as you like for only $169°*. Get a Summer Session Pass, and next winter... you'll blow ‘em all away. We're open until August 4, so head to Blackcomb this summer. And stay cool. Call 687-1032 for more information about Blackcomb’s $169 Summer Session Pass. "Plus GSI. BL CKCOMB