Video: SOI Plans For Seniors Living Facility
[Updated] The Minister of Public Works Lt/Col David Burch and the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors Tinee Furbert, along with the Bermuda Land Development Company, held a press conference “to announce a housing initiative that will benefit seniors.” We will have additional information later on, and in the meantime the video is below.
Update: Minister Burch said, “We are here today to announce the soon to be launched Bermuda Land Development Company’s [BLDC] Solicitation of Interest [SOI] to repurpose Channel House into a fully operational Seniors Residential Living Facility.
“Built by the US Navy in 1942 and later renovated in 1990 and 1999, this three-story building offers a unique canvas for innovation and imagination. The plan is to partner with a community minded developer to convert this property into a state-of-the-art facility equipped to cater to the needs and comforts of our seniors.
“In conclusion, we see Channel House as a symbol of hope and opportunity for seniors in Bermuda. This SOI is a call to action, an invitation to the best and brightest minds to come forward with innovative ideas that will enhance the quality of life for our seniors,” Minister Burch added.
Minister Furbert said, “The opportunity for conversion of Channel House into a Seniors Residential Living Facility marks a significant milestone in our collective journey toward providing for Bermuda’s aging population.
“This initiative signifies not just a physical transformation but a commitment to ensuring housing options remain for our seniors.
Update Nov 29, 4.36pm: Minister Burch’s full statement follows below:
I’m pleased to be here today alongside the Honourable Tinee Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, and Andrew Dias, the CEO of the Bermuda Land Development Company, as we announce a significant initiative that holds great potential for the future of seniors in Bermuda. The Minister of Health is unable to be with us today, but that Ministry will be consulted on this project as well.
Channel House is owned by the BLDC and their Board in considering options for sustainability for Southside following the departure of the IDT Department – and with one remaining tenant – to look at other options for this site. So, we are here today to announce the soon to be launched Bermuda Land Development Company’s [BLDC] Solicitation of Interest [SOI] to repurpose Channel House into a fully operational Seniors Residential Living Facility.
This endeavour aligns perfectly with the Government’s vision and National Seniors Strategy of creating a Bermuda that caters to the needs of our aging population and fosters an environment of dignity and support for them. The National Seniors Strategy is a comprehensive framework that has been meticulously designed to address the evolving needs of our senior community and to create an environment where they can age gracefully with the support they deserve. This strategy, outlined in the House of Assembly in September by Minister Furbert, is a testament to this Government’s deep-seated belief that the changing needs of Bermuda’s seniors must be met through a holistic and cost-effective approach.
This initiative is of such significance as it represents a pivotal step in fulfilling our commitment to providing additional quality accommodations for our senior citizens. I did not want to simply allow the SOI to be issued but to highlight what is planned before its issuance so that we could provide some background and generate interest. Channel House, with its storied history and strategic location, has the potential to become a cornerstone in our mission to address the changing needs of our aging population.
Built by the US Navy in 1942 and later renovated in 1990 and 1999, this three-story building offers a unique canvas for innovation and imagination. The plan is to partner with a community minded developer to convert this property into a state-of-the-art facility equipped to cater to the needs and comforts of our seniors. The primary aim of the SOI is to encourage suitable business ventures to respond and share their creative solutions for the conversion of Channel House.
We are offering an opportunity for those willing to undertake this task to make a lasting impact on our community while also empowering themselves with valuable work and opportunities. We encourage all interested parties to look forward to the release of the SOI next week and to make their submissions by the required deadline. The submissions will be evaluated based on feasibility, design, and costing—culminating in a comprehensive management plan that includes staffing and day-to-day operations.
The BLDC will enter a partnership arrangement where the building is provided at a very reasonable cost for development. Through this, we envision a facility that not only meets the immediate needs of our senior citizens but also adapts to their evolving requirements in the years to come.
In conclusion, we see Channel House as a symbol of hope and opportunity for seniors in Bermuda. This SOI is a call to action, an invitation to the best and brightest minds to come forward with innovative ideas that will enhance the quality of life for our seniors. This effort is a collaboration between the BLDC, 3 Ministries – Public Work, Youth, Social Development & Seniors, Health, Senior’s agencies, KEMH and charities operating in the Senior Care space – so that the best result can be achieved for the benefit of our senior population.
We look forward to the submission and the transformative journey that lies ahead. Together, we can create a brighter and more supportive future for our seniors and Bermuda as a whole.
Minister Furbert’s full statement follows below:
I am delighted to join you today and extend my heartfelt gratitude to my colleague, the Honourable David Burch, Minister of Public Works, and Mr. Andrew Dias, the General Manager of Bermuda Land Development Company.
Your unwavering dedication to this project in support of our seniors exemplifies a shared commitment to our community’s welfare.
At the Ministry of Youth, Social Development, and Seniors, we remain committed to doing the necessary work to develop Bermuda’s National Seniors Strategy.
The opportunity for conversion of Channel House into a Seniors Residential Living Facility marks a significant milestone in our collective journey toward providing for Bermuda’s aging population.
This initiative signifies not just a physical transformation but a commitment to ensuring housing options remain for our seniors.
Together, we are paving the way for a future where seniors in Bermuda can be supported and recognized as an important part of an inclusive community.
Wonderful! This makes perfect sense. A large seniors facility at the extreme end of the island where it will take well over an hour for a senior in need to be transported to the hospital from the time the call is made, the ambulance gets down there, picks up the senior, and gets back to the hospital.
Brilliant forethought! How many will die waiting for transport or on the way?
Meanwhile there are schools much closer to the hospital that need to be closed and can be repurposed for senior living and senior daycare.
Here we go. Another $100m disappears.
So, the St Davids Tech hub has been brushed under this carpet.
Who has the capital and knowledge to create a retirement home on this scale????
Grand Atlantic II is on its way
F&F still going strong!!
You see the size of that place?! Holy over-budget!
No money for roads, no money to maintain Montpelier, no money to maintain Government House, but money to pay $450,000 for a $36,000 piece of land and now this.
“We are offering an opportunity for those willing to undertake this task to make a lasting impact on our community while also empowering themselves with valuable work and opportunities. We encourage all interested parties to look forward to the release of the SOI next week and to make their submissions by the required deadline. The submissions will be evaluated based on feasibility, design, and costing—culminating in a comprehensive management plan that includes staffing and day-to-day operations.
The BLDC will enter a partnership arrangement where the building is provided at a very reasonable cost for development. Through this, we envision a facility that not only meets the immediate needs of our senior citizens but also adapts to their evolving requirements in the years to come.”
It clearly states for private sector to develop it.