At last week's BWG Council meeting, Bradford West Gwillimbury town council approved the donation of 2.2 acres (0.89 hectares) at 125 Simcoe Road to the County of Simcoe, subject to county council's approval of an affordable housing project on the site.
"I'm happy to see this coming to council. It’s something that we’ve worked on for a while," said Deputy Mayor James Leduc.
The town has been in talks with the county since 2016 about the delivery of an affordable housing project.
In 2014, the county adopted the 'Our Community 10-Year Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention Strategy', with a target of creating 2,685 new affordable housing units throughout the region by 2024, with 202 of them in Bradford West Gwillimbury.
In 2016, the county issued a 'Call For Proposals' (CFP) where municipalities had the opportunity to submit proposals for a collaboration with the county to develop affordable housing projects. By initiating the CFP, the county was hoping to be able to reduce costs, by partnering with both private developers and municipalities.
The Town of BWG identified the need for more affordable housing in its strategic plan, and proposed four different properties for the county's consideration. After discussions between the county and town staff, it was decided that a site at 125 Simcoe Rd. would be the preferred location.
The town owns a total of 17.5 acres (43.2 ha.) at 125 Simcoe Rd., the site of the Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre and Centennial Park.
In 2017, the town initiated a 'revisioning' plan for the centre to better serve the needs of the community - and in 2018, council approved a Community Centre Redevelopment Master Plan, which proposes a performing arts centre, town hall, social services space, indoor and outdoor recreational amenities, and multi-purpose spaces. The plan also proposed a much-needed affordable housing site, at the south-west corner of the campus at Simcoe Road and Marshview Boulevard.
A staff report noted that the town is not only offering a property which is in close proximity to the downtown core, transit and amenities, but is now offering to waive the fees associated with the land transfer and development, and to contribute up to $50,000 toward the cost of relocating an overland storm water flow route on the property.
The town has been working with the county over the past few months to put together a concept plan for the project: a four-storey building with approximately 50 housing units, being a mix of one, two and three bedroom rental apartments, that would be owned and managed by Simcoe County Housing Corporation. The building would also house County social support offices.
If approved by the county, construction could begin in the spring of 2022, to be completed by 2023.
"It's something we've worked on for a while," said Deputy Mayor Leduc. "Affordable housing is a very critical issue in our community... We need this, no matter what. It's not going to get better, we're going to have many years of (housing) impact with COVID-19.
"I look forward to supporting it," he said.
Council endorsed the recommendation from staff to approve the transfer of the site to the county, and waive site plan, engineering and building permit application fees. The project would also be exempt from all development charges.
The town is also willing to cover half of the $100K cost of rerouting a decades-old overland flow route for storm-water management that runs through the site.
Coun. Peter Dykie was in support of the project, noting it is "well overdue" for Bradford. "It's a great location downtown... Everything's so expensive in our community. There is a big need for a building like this."
Coun. Raj Sandhu agreed. "This is a need for our community," Sandhu said, while suggesting that "it's a Catch-22 - the affordable housing is a service that needs to be provided by the county, and they're flush with cash," yet it is the town that is providing the land, the fees, and $50,000 for stormwater management.
Even so, the councillor supported the recommendation due to the need in the community, adding, "It's a small price we're paying."
"This has been a little while in the works.... At the end of the day, we have to wait for Simcoe County to say yes," said Coun. Mark Contois. "This is well-needed in our municipality. Our housing supply is lacking severely in affordable housing."
Contois added, "I just wish they put another storey on it and some more units."
The county's affordable housing strategy calls for the town to add 202 affordable units within a 10-year time frame,. "We're up to 71 at this time," noted Mayor Rob Keffer. The proposed development will bring the town closer to the county target.
"There are other ways to get more units - some second suites and other... incentives, can be used to get our numbers up," Keffer said. "Hopefully we will hit that number. It's time for South Simcoe municipalities to get some more affordable housing built."
Mayor Keffer noted that other municipalities have donated the land for affordable housing projects. "Because our land values are higher, it's a higher 'give'," in BWG, he said, adding that the land transfer will go through only if the county supports the project.
If turned down, Mayor Keffer suggested, "there are other opportunities" to move forward with affordable housing.
"When you look at the land value in Bradford, it's shocking," said Leduc. "Hopefully we can get this project done."
"Hopefully, the county's in support of this," agreed Coun. Peter Ferragine. "We hear about affordable housing all the time. We need some options for our residents."
With council's support of the project, it is anticipated county council will approve the project later this fall.
