The Kenora District Services Board says it will be working with the City of Dryden immediately to start moving an affordable housing project forward.
The Board has secured the Pinewood School property for the joint Dryden Native Friendship Centre and Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services development.
Chief Administrative Officer Henry Wall says members of the public will also be engaged on rezoning and official plan requirement discussions.
Wall says they will be working with the community, the City and the neighbourhood to ensure the needs of everyone are met.
He stresses they would like construction to begin a year from now, in order to be ready for the next building season.
Wall says the longer the building sits vacant without work being done on it, the harder it will be to transition it to a housing complex.
The KDSB believes the property is perfect for their needs as it’s close to the downtown core.
Wall says the building has been vacant for a number of years but it still has a lot of life and is structurally sound.
Wall adds the property comes with significant vacant land which will lend itself to future housing development of all kinds.
He says the facility will lead to the development of the Dryden Homeward Bound project, an initiative focusing on providing single Indigenous moms with housing, education, employment and childcare opportunities.
To hear details about the project, visit the audio link below.
