KINGSTON — City council is to be asked to provide $50,000 in seed money for planning of an affordable housing development.
The recently formed Limestone City Co-operative Housing is working to develop an affordable housing project in the city.
A vacant city-owned 0.5-hectare property at 900 Division St. is being eyed as the leading candidate for the development, which could create up to 80 affordable housing units, depending on the chosen design, and a ground-oriented urban farming features.
Another potential location is at 367 Gore St., which could accommodate up to 80 affordable housing units.
The money would come from the city’s affordable housing viability capital budget, a fund that exists specifically to assist the early development stages of projects like this.
“Given the central location of the property within the urban area, it is anticipated that a multi-unit housing development could be accommodated,” Lanie Hurdle, chief administrative officer, stated about the 900 Division St. location in a report to council.
Hurdle added that a zoning bylaw and official plan amendments might be needed for the development to go ahead.
“It is anticipated that a development on this property could include between 200 and 300 residential units. Because of the limited size of the property and its potential for higher densities, urban farming on this property could be in the form of vertical farming.”
Council is to consider the funding request at its Tuesday night meeting.