Century-old school provides senior housing
Chris McGuigan / Contributing Writer
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: Page One
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The Lord Stirling project is the third phase of the New Brunswick HOPE VI redevelopment project. There will also be on-site parking and a Resident Services coordinator on the premises, according to the press release.
"I think it's wonderful," said Roland Barnes, a lifetime resident of New Brunswick who moved into the Lord Stirling Senior Housing project last week. "It's hard to find a decent place. I've lived here all my life and I'd wanted to continue living here. It's a wonderful place."
Lord Stirling's first residents moved in on Nov. 19, and all units were occupied by the end of December, according to the release.
"I think something this country forgets is they don't take care of the seniors. Most places it's a 6 to 12 month wait to get in, and they might not even have a spot open," Barnes said. "We weren't born old. We paid our dues. Now we want to settle down."
New Brunswick Mayor James C. Cahill expressed pride in the project so many had worked so hard for.
"This is a great day for the project," Cahill said about the housing phase. "It's a great program. In my position as mayor and with my team, we try to discuss how to make New Brunswick a great place to live as framed within the bigger picture. We really want to revitalize the neighborhood."
Executive Director of the New Brunswick Housing Authority John Clarke said he thinks Hope VI will change the face of New Brunswick.
"Change is coming, and it's coming in the form of Hope VI," he said. "We have hope that we'll make this a better community, that we'll change areas that weren't exactly the best places to be after dark into habitable environments."