The final piece of the puzzle is in place for construction to begin on an $11-million seniors’ living complex in the village of Sundridge.

Bill Atkinson, chair of the Non-Profit Organization for Almaguin Housing, announced on March 17 that the group has completed the purchase of a property located at 20 Ontario St. The three-acre property was once home to a prominent local hotel and restaurant.

Construction plans call for two phases of work. The first phase will include a three-storey, 50-unit affordable-housing building that features a mix of studio and one- and two-bedroom units. Work on that phase of the project is scheduled to begin later this spring, and be completed early next year.

The second phase of work, for which no construction plans have been set, calls for a similarly sized building that combines commercial, residential and office space.

“We expect that this project will have a major impact on the community in terms of material sales, employment opportunities, population shift, and affordable senior accommodation," said Atkinson. 

Almaguin Housing has been working since 2015 to secure construction of the facility.

Sundridge is a community of about 1,000 people located 70 kilometres south of North Bay.