With the completion of the Elgin Shores redevelopment, homes for 40 households have replaced homes for 18

Elgin Street homes. By Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News

By: Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News

The mood was celebratory Wednesday afternoon, in spite of the heat, as Northumberland County and the Northumberland County Housing Corporation hosted the grand opening of 20 new attainable-housing units.

It was the completion of Phase 2 of the Elgin Park redevelopment of nine aging duplexes on Elgin Street into four 10-plex buildings – effectively providing 40 homes where once there were 18.

Warden Brian Ostrander cited the partners in the endeavour – the county, NCHC, and the Federal and provincial governments, as well as design and construction partners.

“This unique partnership has shown what is possible when we work together,” Ostrander said - “energy-efficient, accessible and, most importantly, attainable for more people in our community.”

The announcement was made in 2022 of $8-million in support from Canada's Affordable Housing Fund and the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative.

Phase 1, the first two buildings with their 20 units, opened in November 2023.

What is now a 40-unit mix consists of 28 rent-geared-to-income and 12 market-rental units (where the rent is at or below the average market rent for that region)

The Cobourg site was selected because of its proximity to services, transit and amenities. The new buildings prioritize sustainability and accessibility, with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification and select units designed with enhanced mobility supports.

“It makes the most of public land, reduces infrastructure investment and builds community density in a thoughtful way,” Ostrander said.

“Here's the kicker – it was completed on time and on budget. No small feat in today's market.”

Part of the project's success lay in having the NCHC as project managers and infrastructure builders, he added.

“By managing it ourselves, we stayed responsive, aligned with local needs and ensured top standards all the way.

“The need for affordable and supportive housing in Northumberland is urgent,” he said, citing a 1% rental vacancy and a waiting list for subsidized housing that has more than 1,000 households – and consequently may necessitate a wait as long as 10 years.

“Communities across Canada need affordable housing that meets their needs, and Canada needs to build more homes to build a stronger economy,” added Jennifer McKelvie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure.

This is another step forward in our ambitious plan to build Canada Strong.

“Families are having a hard time finding homes that meet their needs that they can afford. Solving this crisis won't be easy, but it is possible. Today's announcement is part of the solution. Giving more people a chance for a fresh start brings us closer to a better, fairer future for us all.”

As Ontario's Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini noted that the people benefiting from the Elgin Park project are not only the people who have found homes but also the local workers who built them.

“It's great to see local contractors working on local projects for the local community,” Piccini said.

“Today is about community. It's really exciting we we all row in the same direction.

“I salute you – on time and on budget is not an easy feat, especially in today's ever-increasing, challenging world with supply-chain disruptions etc.,” he added.

The day's 20 units brings the county's total affordable-home units over the 370 mark, Northumberland County Housing Corporation Chair Victor Fiume announced.

“We are proud to be part of a team working every day to ensure more people in our community access to safe, secure, affordable housing within the county,” Fiume stated.

“And this is just the beginning. We are ready to go. Bring on the next project. We have certainly shown we can be on time and on budget, and we are waiting for our next go-round.

“It's about people, it's about families, seniors and individuals who need a stable place to live and a foundation to thrive.

Fiume said that he drives past the Elgin Park development regularly and “I see families gathering, kids riding bikes and playing. There's no greater sense of satisfaction than seeing that in our community. I think we should be very proud of that.”