Shuttered Hamilton retirement home set to become seniors housing: Good Shepherd

Back in 2020, deadly COVID-19 outbreak took the lives of 16 residents at a retirement home in Hamilton and the building has been vacant ever since.

Now, Good Shepherd has plans to repurpose the space into supportive housing for seniors.

The former Rosslyn Retirement Residence building near Gage Park has been shuttered, years after tragedy in 2020.

“One that has directly impacted the adjacent community, but also Hamiltonians who had loved ones pass away there during the pandemic,” said Ward 3 Coun. Nrinder Nann.

The retirement home’s regulatory authority revoked the operator’s license and the residence closed, now the Good Shepherd wants the building to have purpose again.

“The Good Shepherd was able to purchase this building,” said Brother Richard MacPhee, Good Shepherd’s chief executive officer.

The organization said the building will be turned into supportive housing for older adults with physical disabilities. The residents will be people currently in Good Shepherd housing who need more support but not long-term care.

“We really felt that it was important that we could develop a new program that we can provide the care they would need, so they can live as independently as possible, but continue to age in place,” MacPhee said. “Many of them have lived with us for over 30 years and we really want to support them in their senior years.”

MacPhee notes these residents also do not have the money to go into higher-end, private homes. He said the building doesn’t need zoning changes for its plan.

“We’re really look at changing rooms that have bathtubs in them, to showers, putting new flooring down, new lighting, new heating and air conditioning for folks,” MacPhee said. “The reality is that it will open up new space within our programs, and create some new places for people to go.”

The project will also open up more space for those in need in the city.  Coun. Nann says it’s good to see space in the city put to good use.

“I think its the best case scenario where you have a facility that’s been absolutely sitting vacant and underutilized, but doesn’t need a lot more investment to bring it up to code, to bring it up to a dignified, prideful home for other people,” she said.

According to Nann, Good Shepherd will be hosting a community meeting soon to engage with the surrounding community.

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