90 units inching closer to reality for ‘vibrant’ community

Dignitaries gathered on a plot of land that will see construction in the near future in the south community of Heron Gate.

Once complete, 1750 and 1790 Heatherington Rd. will host 90 affordable homes, a press release from Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) reads. The organization is spearheading the project that has been in the works for several years.

The pre-development work is complete, such as the environmental, technical and planning coordination. It was the first part of a long-term development of the site that is expected to help revitalize the Albion–Heatherington area while also bringing homes people can afford.

“Ottawa Community Housing is a critical partner in our efforts to build more affordable housing across the city. This project shows what’s possible when we work together with a clear focus on getting shovels in the ground and delivering homes for the people who need them,” Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said at the event on Monday.

OCH is the delivery partner for the first phase, with the city spearheading the long-term vision. When complete, the project will have 34 studio apartments, 28 one-bedrooms and 28 two-bedroom homes per building.

Stéphane Giguère, Chief Executive Officer of OCH, said in a release that the goal for the community is for it to be a “vibrant, family-oriented” place for people to live.

Part of large government effort

This project is a part of a significant move to create affordable housing in the region by the municipality and the federal government.

Prime Minister Mark Carney boasted how the federal government is “exceeding” targets for affordable housing in the nation’s capital.

At a press conference in his riding of Nepean, the prime minister said that as part of the Build Canada Homes partnership with the City of Ottawa, the federal government is adding eight new housing projects.

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It brings the total of units to 1,100, exceeding the targets by about 10 per cent the press release notes.

According to the government over 90 per cent of the projects are going to be affordable rental homes. The majority are set to begin construction before the end of the year.

Projects include:

• 200-201 Beausoleil Dr.
• Geyser Place (formerly 3380 Jockvale Rd.)
• 58 Capilano Dr.
• 240 Presland Rd.
• 1770 Heatherington Rd.
• 100 block of Hickory St.
• 2475 Regina St.
• 384 Arlington Ave.

According to a memo from the City of Ottawa, there is a total of 1,123 units through the builds.