Kitchener donating land worth $5.5M for affordable housing development

The City of Kitchener is donating land worth an estimated $5.5 million for an affordable housing development in the Stanley Park area.

Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region will use the land to build purpose-built affordable housing that will include several three- and four-bedroom units and some smaller studio, one- and two-bedroom units.

The project, announced Thursday, marks the first phase of the Build Now: Waterloo Region partnership that aims to provide 10,000 affordable and attainable units throughout the region by 2030.

Kitchener council is expected to grant final approval to the land donation on Monday; the city will also waive future development fees.

The development will be located at River Road East and Ottawa Street North, where Habitat plans to begin building by early 2025.

At least 63 units are planned, and although the type of building hasn’t been confirmed yet, a Habitat for Humanity representative said they’ve been focusing on mid-rise buildings.

The units would be owner-occupied by low- and moderate-income families, currently defined by the province as households making less than $121,500 a year, who have lived in the region for three or more years.

The homes would remain affordable, even if the original owners move.

“We are thrilled to begin a Build Now project and to focus on building attainable housing for the residents in our community,” Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region chief executive officer Philip Mills said in a release.

“This is just the start of something big and we cannot wait to get shovels in the ground and folks into homes.”

The city said the land donation marks another housing objective identified in the allocation of $42.4 million in funding to Kitchener from the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund, announced in November.

That funding aims to fast-track the construction of 1,216 new homes by early 2027.

“Stable and dignified housing is a core need, that best enhances the quality of life for both individuals and families,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.

“Meeting those housing needs successfully requires community and government partners coming together in a new spirit of collaboration and innovation.”

On Monday, council is also expected to formally approve a pilot program that would see grants of $10,000 per unit allocated to help offset upfront costs for new notfor-profit affordable rental and cooperative housing units.

Qualifying developments could receive grants for a maximum of 50 units; the program aims to support a total of 520 new units.

Federal Housing Accelerator Fund monies will fund 75 per cent of this program.

The affordable housing grants and the provision of city-owned land for affordable or supportive housing projects are part of the city’s Building Kitchener Together initiative announced last week.

Kitchener council is expected to grant final approval to the land donation on Monday; the city will also waive future development fees