Written By Olena Riznyk
NORTH MIDDLESEX – Amy Cadman and Philip Bruce of the North Middlesex Affordable Housing Committee presented council with plans for a proposed 10-unit affordable housing project at its September 2 meeting.
The committee has been working on affordable housing ideas in the municipality for more than two years and has met several times with council members and municipal staff. Bruce said the group decided to begin with a smaller project before looking at anything larger.
The proposed building would be located at the corner of King Street and Ann Street on property being donated by a local family.
A preliminary site design was prepared by a recently retired architect. The plan includes 10 units, with four on the ground floor and six upstairs. Some of the ground-floor units would be accessible, while the building would also include larger units for families.
Bruce said one of the main concerns the committee hopes to address is the lack of affordable housing for families in the community. He said some young families are living in cramped quarters because market rents are too high.
The group has not yet started fundraising for the project. Bruce said members wanted to first know whether the municipality supported the idea before moving ahead with legal work, planning and other costs. He said even a project of this size could cost several million dollars.
The committee is also looking for help accessing possible programs, including Community Improvement Plan grants, tax incentive grants and possible development charge relief. Members also discussed working with Middlesex County and London Middlesex Community Housing as the project develops.
Councillor Sara Nirta supported the proposal and pointed to the larger family units as one of its strengths. “I think this is an excellent project,” she said, adding that four-bedroom units are difficult to find for families.
Council also discussed what kind of support the municipality could provide. Staff said council could support the project in principle, but could not commit future councils to financial contributions.
The committee also asked for a municipal staff contact who could work with the group as the project moves ahead.
Interim CAO Samuel Shannon said either he or the municipal planner could serve in that role and continue working with the committee. Council ultimately received the delegation and approved a motion supporting the project in principle. The motion does not include a financial commitment, but allows municipal staff to continue assisting the committee as it works through planning, possible funding programs and next steps for the project.
