New Foundations could help Barrie build more badly needed affordable housing.
The city initiative, which will have a virtual open house in January, offers select property owners the chance to apply for financial support to do an affordable housing feasibility study.
The city will fund as many as 10 of these studies, each worth about $20,000, to provide a vision to build affordable housing on a property and outline practical steps needed to turn vision into reality.
The studies are primarily for properties zoned institutional, as well as for certain places of worship outside of institutional zones. Many of these sites are large and have the space to build affordable townhomes or small- or mid-sized apartments in conjunction with the existing permitted use.
“It won’t work for all properties,” said Mayor Jeff Lehman. “It works best for those with large amounts of extra land, and we know there are a few of those institutions and places of worship who have significantly large properties or campuses that are either already in with applications or proceeding towards them.
“It’s my hope that we still see a lot of potential affordable housing come out of this, led by property owners in our community," he added.
“There has already been a lot of interest. We’ve got some letters and e-mails going out to some interested parties,” said Michelle Banfield, the city’s director of development services. “Once we have an indication of how many properties want to explore this, then we’ll take a look at the best way to spend that seed money that council approved.”
Last fall, council approved a motion to inform all owners of institutionally designated properties in Barrie of its intention to allow housing as-of-right on this land, and inviting them to contact the city to discuss the potential for the construction of affordable housing on their properties.
Once projects are determined, city staff will seek proposals from consultants in accordance with Barrie’s procurement bylaw to conduct feasibility studies for affordable housing projects on institutionally designated properties, owned by non-profit or charitable organizations. The studies will be funded from the city’s community benefit reserve.
The New Foundations virtual open house is scheduled for Jan. 26 at 10:30 a.m.
Creating more affordable housing is a priority for city council, and its affordable housing task force will present a plan in early 2022 to co-ordinate County of Simcoe, Barrie and charitable/not-for-profit housing projects and policies, to expand the supply of affordable housing, with particular emphasis on addressing the hardest to house.
The city defines affordable rental housing as a unit for which the rent doesn’t exceed 30 per cent of the gross annual household income for low- to moderate-income households. That income is based upon the most recent Canada Census statistics for Barrie, which is updated every five years.
Affordable housing is a range of housing types allowing families and individuals, of all income levels, to find suitable places to live without spending a disproportionate percentage of their income on housing. Affordable housing can include ownership, rental or subsidized housing.
Barrie’s affordable housing strategy is designed to encourage, stimulate and increase the supply and range of affordable housing options to meet the needs of residents of all income levels, at all stages of life.
