Terrasses Bowen opened last week after months of delay brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, but construction on the building is not complete as crews attempt to finish off the facade.
The grand opening on September 1 saw dozens of elderly folk maneuver their moving trucks or vans through construction equipment and crews simultaneously working on the building. But while the scene looked chaotic, Stéphane Côté assured The Record that everything is ready.
“All that’s left is a few technical adjustments to the building but in terms of functionality we’re at about 90 per cent. Everything should be finished between September 10 and 15,” said Côté, the building’s director of residential life.
With people slowly moving into their apartments, Côté said he and his staff are aware of the potential disturbance caused by the construction. The issue was brought up internally, he explained, and a survey was issued to all residents before moving day.
“We conducted an internal survey to check if people were inconvenienced by the noise and for now we haven’t received any complaints about that,” said Côté.
Terrasses Bowen has been in development for several years. The project hauled in more than $50 million in investments. The construction process began in 2018. It features 252 residential units, a gym, pool and a communal dining area.
The lavish private seniors’ residence also includes indoor parking, a large courtyard, a billiards room and a movie theatre. However, residents will need to wait before using most of these amenities as the building plans to adhere strictly to Quebec’s health and safety measures.
“We work directly with Quebec Public Health, so we’ve followed their protocols closely,” Côté said. “You have to wear a mask when you’re inside, so all of the public spaces are controlled.”
When asked about opening a seniors’ residence during a pandemic, the building director sounded confident that there wouldn’t be any problems related to COVID-19. The building’s management team took extra precautions to ensure the residents’ safety.
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Terrasses Bowen open despite construction
By Michael Boriero, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter