Saugeen Shores is taking a major step toward expanding affordable housing in the community, with council approving a new 140-unit development at its October 14, 2025 meeting. The project, led by a consortium headed by Tim Welch Consulting Inc., will be built on the Town-owned Bluewater Lands at 374 Bruce Street in Port Elgin and will include a municipal park with potential amenities like a playground, outdoor ice pad, community garden, and butterfly meadow.
Mayor Luke Charbonneau described the initiative as "transformative" for the municipality. He said the project represents a first-of-its-kind approach for Saugeen Shores, where the municipality retains ownership of the land to ensure the homes remain affordable for at least 50 years. "All those costs are covered by the Housing Accelerator Fund from the federal government," he explained. "The taxpayer doesn’t pay anything, and we keep control and ownership of our land."
The development will feature a mix of low-rise apartments and townhouses, and construction is expected to be completed by early 2028. Charbonneau noted that shovels could be in the ground soon, once zoning approvals and agreements are finalized. "We know how badly these units are needed in our community," he said, emphasizing the Town’s commitment to moving the project forward quickly.
This project builds on the Town’s Affordable Housing on Town-Owned Lands Policy, adopted in February 2024, which allows Saugeen Shores to actively create housing options for moderate and low-income households. Charbonneau also pointed to other initiatives, including a partnership with Habitat for Humanity on the north end of Port Elgin, bringing the total number of affordable units being developed in the Town to around 200.
