The ball is now rolling on the development of 256 new affordable housing units in Saskatoon.
There are currently three city-owned land parcels slated for development. The two larger projects will be taken on by local non-profit organizations. The Saskatoon Open Door Society hopes to construct 112 units next to the downtown bus terminal. Camponi Housing Corporation plans to build 120 units at the corner of McKercher Drive and Heritage Crescent.
At today’s meeting, Council unanimously approved the capital grants and a five-year tax abatement for each project. While the grants will be made possible through the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund, the tax abatements will require the city to forego tax revenue over five years. The abatement would make the properties exempt from the Municipal, Library and Education tax for the next five years, saving them over $1.9 million collectively.
Thankful for Council’s approval, Angela Bishop with Camponi says ‘Camponi Commons’ will offer much more than just a place to live.
“We will have an onsite presence, and in partnership with other agencies, we will offer training opportunities, childcare, cultural activities and programming, and onsite supports such as wrap around services.”
Ahmed Mijib with the Open Door Society says the downtown project, dubbed Welcome Place, will officer a holistic approach to community support.
“That will include educational and training facilities, a daycare service, administrative offices, retail and commercial areas such as doctor’s offices, financial institutions and even perhaps a grocery store.”
Christine Gutmann with the City says Saskatoon has already received 25 per cent of the HAF funding it’s owned, with another 25 per cent on the way shortly.
“There have been some musings in the media, conversations around new government in Ottawa which may take a different direction. We haven’t received any official notification that anything will be clawed back or there will be any changes in the program. It is business as usual from what we’ve heard.”
Construction on the projects is set to commence within the next 18 months, as conditions that come with HAF funding put a deadline on when the money must be spent by.
