Orleans church wants to convert property to affordable housing units
An Orléans church wants to give back to the community by developing its property into an affordable housing complex.
The plan still needs city approval, but would include 81 residential units.
The proposed site, which is currently a green field, is at 360 Kennedy Lane East, next to the Queenswood United Church.
Kindred Works CEO, Tim Blair, wants to develop the area and build 81 residential units.
“It would involve housing 160 residents in a combination of townhomes and three-storey walk ups that allow front doors and backyards,” said Blair.
Blair says a third of the units would be below market rent to help address the affordable housing crisis.
“We would love to have shovels in the ground this fall,” he said. “We are really waiting right now on the city and the planning approval process that needs to occur, but we know that we are in a housing crisis so every time or every delay is a delay in getting people homes that they need.”
The land is the property of the Queenswood United Church and still has to be rezoned for residential use.
“We are transferring ownership over to the project itself,” said Rosemarie MacLennan, the property development committee chair for the church.
MacLennan says the church would stay as a tenant.
“We will continue as a congregation here as we need space for worship,” she said. “We will also have the space for community groups.”
Some neighbours have concerns with the proposed project.
"I realize it’s mostly their property, but at the end of the day green space is required around here and we don’t have enough of it,” said Jeff Paul, who lives in the area.
“The end result is we need it and we don’t have enough parking," he said.
The project is still in the municipal approval process and the developer says a date for council to vote on the project hasn’t been set.
Blair says they are working on seven other similar projects involving church property and affordable housing in cities across Canada.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.