Municipal officials are eyeing a new opportunity to offer affordable housing options for residents in Wallaceburg.
On Monday, city councillors discussed a number of issues surrounding homelessness and the lack of options for low-income residents.
Officials are now looking into the feasibility of developments on municipally-owned lands, including the Westcourt Boulevard and Minnie Street area in Wallaceburg.
"The would be an ideal location for a large affordable and market rent mixed housing development," the report read. "Westcourt Villa is a family townhouse set-up with 48 rent-geared-to-income units and two market rent units which are comprised of 28 two-bedroom units, 18 three-bedroom units, four four-bedroom units, and two three-bedroom wheelchair accessible units."
A consultant is going to be hired to provide design options and cost estimates for site servicing and construction. This will be funded from the housing services operations reserve as well as non-municipal sources if available.
Housing operations is encouraging council to consider developing a 50-60 affordable and market rent mixed housing development.
"As home prices continue to rise in Chatham-Kent, families who would have left community housing remain in community housing due to unaffordable market rents and starter home prices. This has increased demand," the report read. "As there is demand across all cohorts and limited large scale development opportunities, an intergenerational community development would be ideal for the community of Wallaceburg."
Municipal officials are also looking into the feasibility of building a new development at the corner of Park Avenue East and Park Street in Chatham, currently used by Public Works.
