The excitement in Michael VanDerHerberg’s voice told us more about the project ahead than any other detail.

As he explained how a former college campus would turn into 60-plus apartments, the undercurrent of hope and audacity made us all believe it would happen.

Several members of the Housing Continuum Group met for a quick tour and presentation on Tuesday afternoon. We almost sprinted from floor to floor and wing to wing just to keep up.

What we saw uplifted us.

The Mount Community Centre bought the Village on Argyle — a former bible college and Trent University dorm site — in December. It will ultimately copy the playbook used to revitalize Mount St. Joseph into a hub for housing and other services.

Take a large, existing complex and turn small rooms into small apartments. Make them as affordable as possible; add office and commercial tenants to pay the bills until the renovations........

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