KAWARTHA LAKES- City of Kawartha Lakes council is considering a staff proposal to support a new 30 unit apartment building In Fenelon Falls.
The building would consist of one, two and three bedroom units within a mixed income model (affordable, market and above market). These apartments would be appropriate for seniors, singles, couples and families at 106 Murray St in Fenelon Falls.
There are a total of 1,142 subsidized housing units in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton (726 units in Lindsay, 181 units in the rest of CKL and 235 in the County). Information from the City’s Housing Help Division shows that as of December 31st, 2018 there were 1,672 households waiting for one of those units (601 senior households, 373 households with dependents and 698 households without dependents). In 2018 only 98 of the 1,142 units vacated.
In Fenelon Falls specifically there are currently 115 subsidized units and 294 on the centralized waiting list awaiting one of those units. These households would automatically have the option to select these new units with their original application date.
The proposed development in Fenelon Falls would include:
- ï‚· Â 14 one-bedroom apartments with rents ranging between 80-120% of average market rent (AMR) or approximately $700-$1,050 at 2019 AMR;
- ï‚· Â 14 two-bedroom apartments with rents between 80-120% AMR or approximately $850-1,250 at 2019 AMR; and
- ï‚· Â 2 three-bedroom apartments with rents between 80-100% AMR or approximately $1,000-1,200 at 2019 AMR
The development will be financially supported primarily through a Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Housing Corp reserve contribution and a debenture. The mixed income model permits the above market rental income to help support the affordable and market rent units. An application will be made to the National Housing Strategy’s Co-Investment Fund in anticipation of an approximately $1.2 million contribution. The project has already received CMHC Seed Funding in the amount of $60,000 to assist with environmental assessments, drawings and specifications.
The units at or below 100% AMR would be affordable under the City’s Affordable Housing Framework and Municipal Housing Facility by-law. As such, they would qualify for in-kind City financial support toward construction costing including but not limited to:
- ï‚· Â Rezoning fees
- ï‚· Â Site Plan fees and security requirements
- ï‚· Â Parkland levy
- ï‚· Â Development Application Approval Processing (DAAP) fees
- ï‚· Â Service connection fees or charges
The city says the development will incorporate barrier free and energy efficient design options as much as possible with the available funding. This will include looking to construction to comply with a majority of LEED standards including low energy consumption, renewable materials and energy efficient electrical and mechanical systems. Construction would start in 2020.
The proposal be brought forward to Council for consideration at the next Regular Council Meeting.
