By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Years in the making, a new 72-unit affordable housing complex is set to take shape on Wallaceburg’s west side.
At the May 25 meeting, council approved a $31-million tender to S.E.M. Construction Ltd. to construct the five-storey development at 199 Westcourt Blvd. It marks a historic milestone, as it’s the first affordable municipal housing to be built in the community since the 1980s.
Several members of council praised the effort, including Wallaceburg councillors Aaron Hall and Carmen McGregor.
Hall said he was thrilled to see the project become a reality and thanked staff for bringing it together.
“It’s been a couple of years in the making,” Hall said. “It’s not only great news for Wallaceburg – it’s great news for Chatham-Kent.”
The number of people on the wait list for affordable housing indicates a “definite need,” McGregor added.
South Kent Coun. Anthony Ceccacci said he wanted to make sure the public was aware of the immense amount of work undertaken by staff to procure grants for the project, noting “tens of millions” had been accessed to help residents in need of secure housing.
According to an administrative report, the demand for Rent-Geared-To-Income (RGT) housing is at an all-time high in Chatham-Kent, with a centralized waitlist of 1,455 households. At present, 23 per cent of those – or 333 households – are looking for units in Wallaceburg.
Some 11 per cent (33) on the Wallaceburg list are seniors; 33 per cent (110) are family households in need of multi-bedroom units and 56 per cent are adults under the age of 65 seeking one-bedroom units.
The new build will see the creation of 37 one-bedroom units, 25 two-bedroom units, five three-bedroom units and five four-bedroom units. It’s expected to house between 122 to 194 residents.
How the Westcourt build will be paid for was also a topic of discussion following a question from Coun. Ryan Doyle concerned about ongoing operating costs. Council heard from Ray Harper, director of municipal housing services and property development. He said the project is expected to be “cost neutral,” as some of the units will be rented at 80 per cent of average market rents, while others will be rented at rates deemed “deeply affordable.”
Harper, who has been working on the build for at least three years, said the project will “move the needle” to address Wallaceburg’s significant affordable housing gaps.
Close to $19 million in grants were obtained to fund the project, including cash from the Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation; the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and Enbridge, as well as other upper-level government agencies. The remainder will be funded through a $13-million debenture over a 30-year period.
Council also approved spending $658,000 in consulting fees to Barry Bryan Associates for preliminary work and design.
