Land trust has property for affordable housing

City to donate Lansdale neighbourhood property to organization, which is partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build townhomes

The Hamilton Community Land Trust is on track to get its first piece of property thanks to a gift from the city.

The city acquired the land at 278 Wilson St. in the Lansdale neighbourhood after a home on the property was destroyed in a fire more than 15 years ago. It was declared surplus in 2008.

After a series of meetings between the HCLT and Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Green, the parcel was identified as the perfect spot for “affordable ownership townhomes.”

Green put forward a motion to donate it to the organization during Tuesday’s planning committee meeting.

It was unanimously approved, and provided it is ratified by council next week, HCLT director Allison Maxted says the project will be full steam ahead.

“It’s exciting to get things in motion after talking about them for so long,” she said Thursday, more than two and a half years after the organization launched.

The plan is to partner with Habitat for Humanity to create affordable ownership townhomes on the site.

The specifics are still being worked out, says Sean Ferris, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity Hamilton.

The current lot allows for one home, but Ferris says the rough plan so far is to apply for a minor variance to build two units.

What will be different about this project compared to other Habitat developments — what Maxted says is the most important aspect — is that the land will be designated for affordable housing in perpetuity.

The land trust will own the land, leasing it long term to Habitat. So while the residents will be able to own the home itself, Ferris says the exact mortgage model still needs to be worked out.

“The idea is to keep them affordable, keep them available to the community long term,” Maxted explained.

“So as housing prices rise all around our neighbourhood, this parcel can be preserved as affordable,” Green agreed. “It’s just a great story for the neighbourhood.”

There are far more renters than homeowners living in the Lansdale area, according to a 2012 neighbourhood profile by the Social Planning and Research Council.

Almost six in 10 renters and one-third of homeowners live in unaffordable housing, spending 30 per cent or more on shelter costs.

“We have to adapt and change with the times and make sure we are supporting the people who may not have the means to achieve home ownership on their own,” Ferris said.

This is the first proposed project for the HCLT. Maxted calls it an important start — something to point to moving forward when seeking private donations. Green concurred. “The public are reluctant to invest in a concept,” he said. “They’re more likely to invest in something that has a tangible result already.”

‘It’s just a great story for the neighbourhood.’

MATTHEW GREEN

CITY COUNCILLOR