Projects in the works
More than 2,000 potential housing units could go to council votes in Charlottetown
More than 2,000 new housing units spread across half a dozen developments could get a greenlight from Charlottetown council in the coming months.
However, most of those decisions will have to wait for public feedback before a vote happens.
Two planning board meetings in February saw a series of projects up for a future public meeting or council vote.
The planning board makes a recommendation to council after getting public feedback, leaving the 10 members to decide how many actual homes get built.
Several of the developments are large, including one that could see up to 1,400 total units built and another proposing 600 units across 10 buildings.
Here’s what the projects look like:
PORT HOUSE
Readers may be familiar with the Port House project at the corner of 156 Prince St. and 199 Grafton St. The 158-unit proposal was briefly called off near the end of 2023 but brought back for a third proposal shortly before Christmas.
It recently went through the city’s design review process because it is in the protected 500 lots neighbourhood.
This project would also include 32 affordable units.
HILLSBOROUGH PARK
The largest development on the docket — and one of the largest in the last year — is the Hillsborough Park community.
This is a provincially planned neighbourhood that will bring between 1,211 to 1,476 new housing units to an area near the hospital.
It would include a mix of single-detached, duplex, townhome and multiunit residential dwellings.
FORMER COLLEGE
Uptown, an eight-storey apartment building could be going up across the street from UPEI at 503 University Ave.
The former site of the Maritime Christian College, which was sold with courses moving entirely online last year, would offer 257 housing units.
A Feb. 13 planning staff report notes the location in a serviced area close to the university would help some of the acute housing pressure in that area.
NEW HOTEL
While it isn’t for long-term rentals, more hotel vacancy could be on the way to Charlottetown, too.
A six-storey hotel is proposed for an “unaddressed parcel” of land next to 300 Capital Dr.
The proposal includes 120 guest suites with 23 suites per floor from levels two to five. The ground floor would house support services for guests, a lobby and administrative space for staff. It would also have a dining area, fitness centre, swimming pool and meeting and conference rooms.
On Feb. 27, council voted to send these projects to public meetings.
The following proposals will see a vote later:
HIDDEN VALLEY
Phase 3 of the ongoing Hidden Valley neighbourhood will soon be coming to a council vote. There was a public meeting about the proposed 600 units across 10 buildings, and the city received a petition with more than 100 signatures opposing the site.
Earlier phases of the project included smaller homes, but Phase 3 would feature several apartment buildings. Local residents are worried about the increase in traffic.
FAIRDALE DRIVE
Finally, lot 160 on Fairdale Drive could be the site of six new apartment buildings with 192 total units.
These would be on six currently separate lots, so the proposal creates a new subdivision as part of the larger Montgomery Heights area.
During the Feb. 21 planning board meeting, Coun. Julie Mccabe noted the area has grown faster than scheduled and services have not kept pace.