Second Birth
St. Andrew's Place

Publisher:  Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, Canada
Year Published:  1977
Pages:  112pp   Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX373

This is a study that tells the story of St. Andrew's Place, a church property that has been redeveloped into a senior citizens' residence and a place for alternate community services.

Abstract: 
This study tells the story of St. Andrew's Place, a church property that has been redeveloped into a senior citizens' residence and a place for alternate community services. It is the alternate services that are a unique feature of this complex. Housed at St. Andrew's Place are a community based credit union, a co-op, casual labour agency, a community health action centre, and non-profit food and thrift stores. Another unique feature is the style of management of the complex. A separate management corporation was established that involves all major tenants, including the congregation, on an equal footing. There is also community participation in the management. The study tells the history of the redevelopment and analyses some of the conflicts involved. The author bases his analysis on interviews with the key actors in the conflicts including the United Church, the Institute for Urban Studies, the lawyers and architects, and the community. The author sees part of this conflict related to some of the built-in difficulties with third-sector - private but non-profit development. He points to the hard task of inexperienced, volunteer people breaking new ground in financing arrangements for such a project. He also describes the conflicts between architects whose primary concern was to "get something up" and those who wanted full community participation. The innovative management style has also led to conflict. However, in spite of, or possibly because of these difficulties, St. Andrew's Place has become a creative experiment and an important example for those considering similar efforts. The appendices and interviews document this experience in detail.