Former hotel still being eyed for future seniors residence
LOS ANGELES: The trend of converting old hotels into seniors housing is gaining traction in western countries.
A former Timmins hotel being transformed into a new seniors’ housing complex will see residents moving in later than originally expected.
The Cochrane District Services Board (CDSB) is renovating the former Ramada Inn at 1800 Riverside Dr. into 104 “affordable senior retirement units,” says staff. The rental rates have not been shared yet.
“We plan to have it self-sustaining, so that revenues will exceed expenses,” said Lindsay Cumming, CDSB’s director of housing.
“Where the question of affordability will come in will be dependent on the cost of the renovations, and we have applied for provincial funding to help offset that. But it will be self-sustaining.”
As the new plans for the facility take shape, the CDSB is renting rooms, including for short-term rentals. While the agency says it would collect the municipal accommodation tax (MAT), the City of Timmins has not received a payment since the board took ownership.
People got their first glimpse of what the new seniors’ suites could look like at Welcome to Timmins Night.
Two model suites, staged with furniture loaned by The Brick, were unveiled at the annual event and received positive feedback, according to Cumming.
The renovation highlights include room upgrades, the creation of six accessible units, and the addition of shared spaces such as a spiritual room, fitness centre, sports lounge, family connection room, and reading room. The reception area, dining spaces, and ballroom will also be modernized.
The services board is spending at least $1.25 million on the project to install an elevator, upgrade the kitchen, and make other minor building improvements. The cost of upcoming phases of the project is still being determined.
Two requests for proposals (RFPs) are being released this week — one for interior renovations and one for food and housekeeping services, said Antoine Vézina, CDSB’s housing development manager. The recommendations are expected to be before the board in November.
Renovations are expected to start in December or January and run in two phases. The first will be completed by June 2026, opening 54 units for occupancy. The second phase will run from July through late 2026, with the remaining units set to open by December.
“I just want to congratulate staff. I do think this is a great use for this facility,” he said.
“The model rooms look fantastic. I think the community is wholeheartedly behind this use at the facility and the location. It’s a pivot from original plans, but I think staff has done an excellent job in making that pivot.”
The 60,000-square-foot facility, its furnishings, and two neighbouring properties were purchased by CDSB in 2024 for $11.45 million.
Originally slated to be a Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub, when funding failed to come through for that, the CDSB pivoted with plans to develop the building into seniors’ housing.
The CDSB has been using the building to rent conference or meeting space. Rooms have also been rented to out-of-town attendees.
In Timmins, the MAT is a four per cent levy on all short-term rentals. Half of the money goes to city coffers, which council ultimately chooses where it’s spent, and half is redistributed into the community for tourism activities and handed out for tourism activities.
CDSB communications manager Kaileigh Russell said the MAT “would be collected for any short-term room rentals”.
Since the ownership of 1800 Riverside Dr. transferred to the CDSB, MAT remittance has not been provided to the City of Timmins, said Natalie Moore, director of finance and treasurer.
The City says it’s “working to ensure this is rectified.”