By Nigel Maxwell

Vacancy rate drops in La Ronge

Mar 11, 2011 | 5:27 AM

Time is running short for some families in La Ronge.

At the end of this month, an 18-suite apartment building will be boarded up and its tenants forced to find new homes.

The owner of Quarry Apartments was told to shut down because the building was not up to code.

Shanta Knight said she tried getting funding from Saskatchewan Housing, but was denied.

“Because I am a current owner, I cannot qualify for the program. There is another program, and I could apply for that one, but that one doesn't give you enough funding for this building.”

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Knight said she is sad to leave La Ronge.

“I wanted to get this building up and going because I have become attached to La Ronge and the people of La Ronge,” she said.

The mayor of La Ronge, Thomas Sierzycki, is very concerned about the situation, given that the town's vacancy rate is already very low.

“I have spoken to some organizations in town. Right now there is no concrete plan, which is alarming for anyone involved. As a municipality, we have some lofting being developed but that doesn't help families in the meantime,” he said.

Sierzycki is calling on the province to come up with a strategic housing plan for the North. He said he is tired of the bureaucracy.

“When you have too many times when you are always consulting people, (things are not being) done.

I know in last 10 years there have been numerous studies done for the North and it seems that we are still sitting in the same situation, regardless of which government is in power.”

The provincial government is having a stake holders meeting next month.

nmaxwell@panow.com