“Why is nothing happening? Has the project stalled?” We are hearing that a lot these days.
I like to think of the reality of the situation as “the illusion of a happy duck”. While everything at the Mill Block looks peaceful, quiet and barely moving (like a duck floating); underneath we are paddling madly.
What an education this has been for us! Our board and executive director have a broad range of skills, experience and expertise but we have learned just how much it takes to get something like this up and running from humble grassroots origins. The army of experts we have surrounded ourselves with have been nothing short of miraculous in getting us this far, this quickly.
Excuse me? Did you say “quickly”?
Yes, I did. There are many stages and many laps around the duck pond that were needed to get us where we are today.
Ideation and Feasibility
To build a mission, vision and organizational structure we relied on lawyers, accountants and business experts. Our board completed a 16-week incubator program for non-profits run by York University, and LYNC began to take shape. After ideation we needed a “feasibility” stage. We engaged experts in the field of building affordable housing. We were extremely fortunate to engage SHS Consulting and Invizij Architects for the project. They provided professional services such as needs analysis, financial sustainability models, guiding design principles and space requirements, initial site plan designs and floor plans.
What do accountants, lawyers, consultants and architects need?
Time and Money
Building Financial and Community Support
To no one’s surprise we moved swiftly into our next stage, “Building Financial and Community Support”. To say the least, we could not have gotten this far without the dynamic support of our community for both financial support and vision. You might have seen us around a lot over the last year. Our duck feet have been paddling at fall fairs, church services, Santa Parades, Ladies shopping nights and Cruise Nights.
We’ve heard story after story of real people who are experiencing first-hand the housing affordability crises. Some are experiencing food insecurity due to paying for unaffordable housing or are lonely and crying out for community. We continue to be humbled by the generosity of courageous people who believe we can make a difference and donate to LYNC.
Site Plan Approval
Site Plan Approval was the next major milestone for us. Here is the laundry list of some of the requirements we’ve submitted: environmental site assessment, engineering reports on structural soundness and topographical surveys, safe access analysis for flooding, heritage recommendations and minor variances for setbacks and parking.
Are you starting to catch my theme of “time and money”?
The exciting news is that thanks to our diligent and supportive township leaders and staff, we now have that hard-earned site plan approval. We’re over-the-moon ecstatic about this. We are so close to building that we can smell it, we can feel it in our bones. We have our amazing construction managers, Nith Valley Construction, poised and ready to put up that beautiful construction fence.
The reality is, we have one more stage before that long-awaited, yet elusive building stage.
Funding Lock-in Phase
Before we can put shovels in the ground, we need to get our major funding solidified. All of this pre-work was needed before we could even begin to make applications and seek support from major funders. We did it, we got this far together and we are so proud and thankful. We’ll keep paddling fiercely under the surface while our Mill Block glows red and green during the holidays.
Time and Money
Vision and Passion
That’s what we’ve needed all along and that’s what will get us to the end. Thanks to our community of caring individuals and courageous business leaders we have raised almost $2 million to cover these necessary pre-build soft costs.
You did that! We did that!
Please continue to give generously as we take this important lap around the pond. We’ll be running a campaign soon to pay off the remainder of our mortgage and meet any ongoing needs before we solidify support from government agencies such as CMHC and FCM for our major building costs. Exactly one year ago we were handed the keys to the BW Feed Mill. We are asking you to keep the vision and the passion alive for equitable housing, food security and a place to belong in Wilmot!
Happy Paddling!
Lisa Doherty, Vice Chair, LYNC