City announces start of mixed-income housing project
Earlier this week, the Kingston and Frontenac Housing Corporation (KFHC) quietly made some big moves on a new housing project.
According to the City, KFHC broke ground on a new, mixed-income housing project on land previously purchased by the City of Kingston to facilitate the development of affordable housing at 27 Wright Crescent. The project first came before the City’s Planning Committee in September of 2019. It was approved by Council on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020 by a vote of 11-0 with Councillors Ryan Boehme and Gary Oosterhof absent.
“Mixed-income buildings are the best practice for creating socially diverse and sustainable communities,” the City said in a press release on Friday, May 29, 2020.
The project at 27 Wright Crescent will include 40 units comprised of:
- 10 rent-geared-to-income units
- 13 affordable units renting for 20 per cent less than average market
- 17 market rental units
“We are excited to have broken ground at 27 Wright Cres., especially during this challenging time when affordable housing has become even more important. The public funding provided was essential to making this project happen,” said Mary Lynn Cousins Brame, CEO of KFHC in a statement.
The project was made possible through municipal and shared provincial/federal capital funding contributions totaling approximately $2.5 million, along with low-interest loan financing provided under the Federal National Housing Strategy.
The City noted that a private rental building with 129 units is also being developed on the Wright Crescent property, which was purchased by the City from the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame specifically for the development of more affordable housing.
“Affordable housing remains a top priority for City Council. The current state of the world has only reinforced how important it is that we continue to make progress on affordable housing initiatives. We are so pleased to break ground on this new project which will provide much-needed housing units in this desirable, central location, close to shopping, transit and other amenities,” said Mayor Bryan Paterson.
