Preston Scout House among four sites identified as suitable for affordable housing

The city has identified four properties, including the Preston Scout House, as sites staff believes are suitable for the construction of affordable housing and will use the $13.3 million it got from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund to help advance the projects.

In a recommendation coming to next week's council meeting, staff outline the feasibility of city-owned properties on Ethel Street, Queenston Road, Chalmers Street and Grand Ridge Drive where the size and location fits the requirements for affordable housing concepts.

It asks council to direct staff to move on the appropriate zoning bylaw and official plan amendments for each property, all of which will trigger public consultation on the proposals laid out in the report.

The report includes renderings of several housing concepts staff believe best suit the sites, including the Preston Scout House where staff will recommend a three-storey, 24-unit, walk-up apartment building to wrap around the heritage structure.

It's one of three concepts staff considered for the property that were all "sympathetic additions" to the heritage building. 

Staff will recommend the apartment concept among proposals for three other properties when the report is tabled for council consideration next week.

The half-acre site on 10 Ethel Street is the location of a former regional water tower and is surrounded by single and semi-detached homes.

That site could feasibly host anywhere from seven townhouses to 24 walk-up apartment units. 

But staff is recommending a four-storey building with 14 stacked townhouse units and one parking space per unit.

The former St. Ambrose School, at 25 Chalmers St. S., offers a number of development options, between moderate and high density, but staff is recommending a 360-unit apartment building for the 2.8 acre site.

The property is close to Main and Dundas, which includes bus routes and a commercial area with a pharmacy, grocery stores, a bank and Canadian Tire.

The one-acre property at 0 Grand Ridge Drive is considered an "underutilized gateway site in close proximity to parks, schools," and nearby a commercial plaza with a grocery store and pharmacy.

A bus stop is immediately adjacent to the site.

Staff is proposing a 50-unit, four-storey apartment building there as the best opportunity for meeting the city's housing needs.

Two properties that were considered early on but removed from the list due to building constraints include 0 Dando Avenue, near the back of the Galt Collegiate fields, and 0 Bishop Street North, a vacant parcel near Conestoga Boulevard and Can-Amera Parkway.

The report is coming forward after council turned down an alternative housing proposal for the former campground at Churchill Park in 2020.

The discussion prompted the council at the time ask staff to look for other housing opportunities on suitable, city-owned land.

Over the last few years, staff short listed sites and took council direction to hire a consultant to prepare the renderings.