Three more Waterloo Region properties could be redeveloped as affordable housing
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WATERLOO Location — The Area of Waterloo is seeking to use three far more surplus properties to create almost 120 new inexpensive housing models.
As component of an formidable prepare to create more very affordable housing, the Region has been evaluating surplus attributes to see which could be redeveloped as inexpensive housing.
The report to Tuesday’s neighborhood services committee recommends continuing with 3 additional web sites:
- The Location acquired 1388 Highland Rd. W. in Kitchener, between Westheights Generate and Ira Needles Boulevard, for $1.8 million for a highway project. The road function employed only a fraction of the site, so officials want to place a request for proposals this tumble to establish cost-effective housing on the remaining acre. They estimate about 56 units could go there.
- Towards the close of the year, the Region could phone for proposals for 41 Westhill Dr., a .75-acre wedge in Waterloo upcoming to Ira Needles just south of Erb Avenue. About 18 units could go on the web site, which the Area acquired for $96,000 as portion of a highway undertaking. The little web page could be best to construct deeply very affordable units with a non-income organization, the report suggests.
- The third residence, 2.8 acres in the Galt spot of Cambridge, would take extended to redevelop since it requirements a zone alter. The Region purchased the former web-site of Alison Park Public College at 30 Lauris Ave. for $1.3 million in 2018. A ask for for proposals is not likely till next calendar year. Officers hope about 45 units could be developed on the site.
Staff would like to see a single of the tasks formulated under a extensive-expression land lease, which could be certain models remain inexpensive for 40 yrs or a lot more, rather than the common 25 yrs.
The Region’s knowledge redeveloping 555 Beechwood Dr. in Waterloo has manufactured it crystal clear trying to keep close by citizens knowledgeable is very important, the report suggests. Superior communication, in-depth signs on the web page and frequent style updates, would assistance to decrease NIMBYism and fears about inexpensive housing, employees say.
About 6,700 households are on the housing waiting around list.
