Properties in Ottawa identified by federal government for affordable housing
Earlier this week, the federal government announced a plan to convert 22 federal properties in Ottawa into housing. Now the government is giving a glimpse into what those redevelopments could look like.
It's part of the newly announced Canada Public Land Bank, which launched on Sunday, featuring 56 federal properties across the country that were identified as being able to support housing.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Families, Children and Social Development Minister Jenna Sudds identified two properties Thursday in Canada Lands Company's Wateridge Village, former home of the Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe.
The sites can accommodate 495 units of housing, with a minimum 30 per cent dedicated to affordable housing.
"Wherever possible, these public lands will remain public. They will remain public through low-cost leasing to bring down the cost of building and to support the creation of much needed affordable housing," said Sudds.
An example of what this could look like is the 271-unit affordable housing complex owned by Ottawa Community Housing in Wateridge.
But industry leaders say it takes more than just land to get shovels in the ground.
"It's important we are laying in the other pieces in terms of funding and access to financing and preferred tax, all those things come together to allow us to get to the levels of affordability we want. But starting with land is absolutely good," said Cliff Youdale, chief development officer with Ottawa Community Housing.
The government is accepting proposals for the two sites in Wateridge Village.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Son charged with 1st-degree murder after father's death on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast
A 26-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of his father on the Sunshine Coast last year.
Loblaw using body-worn cameras at 2 Calgary stores as part of pilot project
Loblaw is launching a pilot program that will see employees at two Calgary locations don body-worn cameras in an effort to increase safety.
China is raising its retirement age, now among the youngest in the world's major economies
Starting next year, China will raise its retirement age for workers, which is now among the youngest in the world's major economies, in an effort to address its shrinking population and aging work force.
Trudeau says Ukraine can strike deep into Russia with NATO arms, Putin hints at war
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Ukraine should be allowed to strike deep inside Russia, despite Moscow threatening that this would draw Canada and its allies into direct war.
Driver charged with killing NHL's Johnny Gaudreau and his brother had .087 blood-alcohol level
The driver charged with killing NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew as they bicycled on a rural road had a blood-alcohol level of .087, above the .08 legal limit in New Jersey, a prosecutor said Friday.
Sisters finally see the Canadian 'aviation artifact' built by their father nearly 90 years ago
Two sisters have finally been reunited with a plane their father built 90 years ago, that is also considered an important part of Canadian aviation history.
What's behind the boom? The Manitoba community that nearly doubled in a decade
For decades, the Town of Ste. Anne was stagnant, but that all changed about 10 years ago. Now it is seeing one of the highest spikes of growth in the province.
Canadian warship seizes 1,400 kilos of cocaine off Central America
A Canadian warship has seized more than 1,400 kilograms of cocaine during an anti-drug-trafficking operation in Central America.
'I couldn't form the words': 23-year-old Ont. woman highlights need for rural health care after stroke
The experience of 23-year-old Muskoka, Ont., resident Robyn Penniall, who recently had a stroke, comes as concerns are being raised about the future of health care in her community.