The former St. Elizabeth Hospital site in Humboldt is being reborn with a new purpose after being vacant for several years.

A release from the City of Humboldt says the property has been purchased by Harvest Asset Management, which intends to construct about 70 purpose-built, professionally managed one and two-bedroom market rental units to help address growing local demand.

Jarrett Delbridge, Marketing and Development Manager for the City of Humboldt, says, “Transforming a long-vacant site into new, high-quality housing strengthens our neighbourhoods, supports growth, and enhances options available to residents and newcomers.”

The release says steady growth in the community, brought about by major industrial projects in the region such as the Jansen potash mine, warrants an expansion and diversification of the housing inventory.  This expansion will also “directly support workforce attraction and retention, strengthens economic stability, and enhances the community’s competitiveness as employers recruit talent to the region.”

Humboldt’s Mayor Rob Muench says, “For many years, the former hospital site has been a highly visible, underutilized property. Seeing it transition into much-needed market rental, town house style, housing reflects Council’s commitment to responsible growth and thoughtful redevelopment.”