Component

Issues

JustShelter Task

Design for Community

Typical suburban neighbourhoods, the source for most who may move in, lack a social cohesion that encourages neighbourliness.  The choice of urban design principles has a significant impact on community quality.

Urban planning guidelines will be proposed to promote the most positive elements of a community, including walkability, ease of social interaction, and a human, rather than automobile, oriented landscape.

Design for Health

The health care system will suffer tremendous strain as Baby Boomers begin to make greater demands on services.  We are also living longer.  A home’s physical layout and the materials used for construction have a significant impact on health and long term and independence.

Recommendations will be made to ensure design specifications consider the latest research in universal design principles.  Further, recommendations will be made to ensure superior indoor air quality through careful selection of materials and HVAC specifications.

Design for the Environment

Our physical environment is suffering substantially from the over consumption and carelessness of the wealthiest of this world.  Further environmental harm is latent in current building practices.  As a matter of stewardship, we will encourage a developer will respond by ensuring that care for the environment is critical to its mission. 

Recommendations will be made to ensure that materials are selected, building practices are chosen, and management principles are in place to ensure a positive impact on the environment.

We add that not only is environmental concern the right thing to do, it is marketable.

Amenities

A good community must have venues and amenities that add to the quality of life.  At the same time they must actually be desired and usable.

The market research will provide a list of amenities that are desired by the purchasers.  We will be proposing commercial/retail uses.

Health Promotion

Health maintenance is a key element for this age group.  Hospital stays put relatively healthy people at risk of unrelated illnesses.  Most seniors are less able to care for themselves after a hospital stay, even if they have recovered from the reason for the initial visit.  Essentially, we see communities for seniors to be on the front line of the health system.

Recommendations will be provided for a variety of services involving social and physical activation, emergency home care, and health education.  As well, a method of payment for these services will be proposed.

Legal Documents

The purchase documents provide the framework for the legal relationships, definition of responsibilities, and expectations.  They are foundational to the success of the community.

With advice and review from competent legal sources, JustShelter shall prepare the offers to purchase or lease, the tenure documents, regulations, policies, and the purchase of services.

Further the process shall be put in place for home upgrades or alternations.

Financial Strategy

Financing such a development will require a strategy that builds upon the land value as well as the deposits of purchasers and other funding sources. 

JustShelter will advise on establishing on methods to ensure sufficient equity is in place for bank financing. 

JustShelter shall also work with the lender/mortgage brokers in obtaining financing.

Government grants will be explored and, if appropriate, blended with the overall package.

Capital Budget

The capital budget must account for the phased approach necessary for the size of this development.  The budget is the key financial document.

JustShelter shall be responsible for the creation of the overall capital budget, placing controls on the cash flow, and reporting as required.  Financial record keeping shall be a negotiated item. 

Developer Revenue

Most developments have a purpose of creating a long-term benefit to the developer, either as added equity or a service to a particular population.  Structuring this development to meet this objective shall be one of the key elements.

We will make recommendations on how this may be done in a way that is best for the developer and market acceptability.