06/11/2026
Morning Everyone,
As some of you may have heard, Manitoba Housing has committed to building a new facility in Morris to replace the Parkside Villas. Although Council was first made aware of this last October, the discussion has recently moved forward with the Town discussing possible sites for the new build.
Council is currently waiting for feedback from MH as to what they would choose to build on the various potential sites. We recognize that affordable seniors' housing is in short supply in the area, so will attempt to offer a site that allows for the largest possible build.
Although there are still a lot of questions to be answered, there have been a few questions received regarding this new build. We asked these questions at our last meeting with Manitoba Housing, and received the following feedback:
- Initial indication is that there will be more suites than current, built to modern accessibility standards and with more in-demand suite layouts
- Construction is expected to begin in the next three years, with this timeline being variable based on site prework needed
- Although not typically part of the MH mandate, the seniors' centre portion of the facility (The Davidson Centre) will be part of the new build on a like-for-like basis, including common space, and a commercial kitchen that can support congregate meal services
- This will be done with no disruption to current tenants, as the current Villas will remain open until the new facility is built
- When a future supportive housing project moves forward, we would be allowed to attach it to this facility, especially beneficial for shared common space and congregate meals
There are still a number of questions to be answered, and there will also be engagement needed with tenants, Morris Area Seniors' Services, and the Board of the Davidson Centre. However, it is important to understand this project is still in early stages, and these consultations will take place once the location is determined, and the facility is being designed.
As a Town, we have been also very encouraged by Manitoba Housing's approach to the project - they have demonstrated they are responsible partners who want to do the right thing for their tenants and our community.
This is exciting news, as this represents one of the most significant new capital investments in our Town by the Province of Manitoba in decades. Importantly, this project may also allow for efficiencies that can help us move forward with supportive housing.
We will continue to update our residents as additional information becomes available.