CityHousing Hamilton project gets provincial zoning order to move forward
The Ontario government has granted a ministerial zoning order to fast-track a land-use change needed for a CityHousing rapid-housing project.
The 15-unit project at 350 King St. E. must be completed within 12 months as a condition of receiving $2.25 million in federal funding.
In December, at local planning staff's urging, city council agreed to ask provincial Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark for the order to meet the federal deadline.
On Friday, MPP Donna Skelly (Flamborough-Glanbrook), who said she was pleased to advocate" on the city's behalf, noted Clark's office had approved the order.
It's wonderful because you want them, especially now, to be able to leverage any sort of additional financial support," Skelly said about the affordable housing initiative. This will allow them to proceed."
CityHousing plans to transform unused ground-floor commercial space at First Place seniors' residence into 15 more one-bedroom units for older adults.
Planning staff say the project needs a zoning change or minor variance. Such a rezoning can take six to 12 months, while a minor variance can involve three to five months, due to report writing and public-notice obligations.
The King East conversion was one of four local projects approved for $10.8 million in federal rapid-housing funds late last year.
Options for Independent Living plans to create a new low-rise modular building with two- and three-bedroom apartments at 137 George St. to house and provide support services for 15 women at risk of homelessness.
Indwell Community Homes and Sacajawea Non-Profit Housing are teaming up to turn a three-storey commercial property at 180 Ottawa St. N. into 12 bachelor units for Indigenous women experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Wesley Community Homes will convert office space at 195 Ferguson Ave. N. into one-bedroom apartments for 11 people who are homeless and a two-bedroom unit for a superintendent.
City staff said only the King East project posed deadline concerns relating to land-use approvals.
In a January report, CityHousing noted the 9,500-square-foot King East project's overall cost was estimated at $3.1 million.
Teviah Moro is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: tmoro@thespec.com