A developer building an affordable housing complex is looking for a waiver of development fees in Amherstburg to provide additional savings for its tenants.
The developer wants to include more energy efficient technology to reduce hydro costs however they are working with a fixed budget from the Ministry of Housing.
Developer Steve Newman says if they don't have to pay development fees they can include heat pumps and geothermal loops in the construction.
"We're hoping that if we put more efficient hydro equipment, heating and operating their unit that their monthly bill will go down," says Newman.
Amherstburg council directed its administration to work on an agreement with the developer before approving the waiver. At a previous meeting they agreed to delay development charges for 18 months.
The affordable housing apartment building is being built at 182 Pickering Dr. in Amherstburg. It will have 32 apartments. Newman says of the 3,500 people in the Windsor-Essex area waiting for affordable housing, 15% of those live in Amherstburg.
