Stratford Attainable Housing Project

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Stratford Attainable Housing Project logoAn Attainable Market Housing Community Incentives Toolkit (CIT) and an Attainable Market Housing Pilot Project are currently being developed for the City of Stratford.

What is a Community Incentives Toolkit?
What is the purpose of this project?

To address challenges in the availability and attainability of suitable and adequate housing, the City of Stratford is researching and developing an Attainable Market Housing Community Incentives Toolkit (CIT), and Attainable Market Housing Pilot Project to encourage the generation of more attainable housing.

The aim of the Community Incentives Toolkit (CIT) is to encourage private sector investment into housing within the community, while also identifying projects and initiatives that may be implemented by the Municipality to assist in housing availability and attainability.

If approved by Council and in place, the project could see the City provide financial incentives, in the form of grants, loans, rebates, and tax assistance, to eligible landowners and tenants to help with physical improvements to private property. The creation of this Attainable Market Housing CIT would help the City incentivize the private sector and generate more attainable housing options. The project could also include the revision of existing planning policies to further increase opportunities for the provision of attainable housing in Stratford.

What is the process?

The CIT will be prepared through a Five-Stage Work Program, with an anticipated completion date for the CIT in March 2023, after which it will be considered by City Council for adoption.

How can I get involved?

There are a number of engagement sessions being held throughout the project, and information about those opportunities will be posted here on Engage Stratford.

Currently, there is a question-and-answer tool below, with answers to many of the questions that have been submitted so far.

A public survey that was offered in October has now been completed.

Stakeholder consultations and an in-person public open house were held on November 23, 2022, and the display boards from the open house are available in the Documents section at right.

The Lifecyle information will list additional opportunities to provide feedback once details have been finalized.

Stratford Attainable Housing Project logoAn Attainable Market Housing Community Incentives Toolkit (CIT) and an Attainable Market Housing Pilot Project are currently being developed for the City of Stratford.

What is a Community Incentives Toolkit?
What is the purpose of this project?

To address challenges in the availability and attainability of suitable and adequate housing, the City of Stratford is researching and developing an Attainable Market Housing Community Incentives Toolkit (CIT), and Attainable Market Housing Pilot Project to encourage the generation of more attainable housing.

The aim of the Community Incentives Toolkit (CIT) is to encourage private sector investment into housing within the community, while also identifying projects and initiatives that may be implemented by the Municipality to assist in housing availability and attainability.

If approved by Council and in place, the project could see the City provide financial incentives, in the form of grants, loans, rebates, and tax assistance, to eligible landowners and tenants to help with physical improvements to private property. The creation of this Attainable Market Housing CIT would help the City incentivize the private sector and generate more attainable housing options. The project could also include the revision of existing planning policies to further increase opportunities for the provision of attainable housing in Stratford.

What is the process?

The CIT will be prepared through a Five-Stage Work Program, with an anticipated completion date for the CIT in March 2023, after which it will be considered by City Council for adoption.

How can I get involved?

There are a number of engagement sessions being held throughout the project, and information about those opportunities will be posted here on Engage Stratford.

Currently, there is a question-and-answer tool below, with answers to many of the questions that have been submitted so far.

A public survey that was offered in October has now been completed.

Stakeholder consultations and an in-person public open house were held on November 23, 2022, and the display boards from the open house are available in the Documents section at right.

The Lifecyle information will list additional opportunities to provide feedback once details have been finalized.

Ask a Question or Leave a Comment

Do you have a question about the Stratford Attainable Housing Project?
Ask us, and we'll do our best to answer it.

Questions and responses will be posted here for everyone to see.

(Please note that your username will appear with your question. If you would rather contact us privately, please reach out using the Who's Listening link on the right side of this page)

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    Please publish your Final Report here on this page. Thank You.

    MzNiks asked 5 months ago

    The staff report and the final Attainable Housing Project report are now available in the Documents section of this project page.

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    Regarding your answer below: "Prior to receiving funds as part of the programs, the property owner would be required to enter into an agreement with the municipality requiring that the units developed with municipal funds must be maintained as attainable for a certain number of years. This agreement would be registered on title and listed as a restriction/obligation affecting the property's use. As on-title agreements are legally binding, the requirement for the unit to be maintained as attainable would be required by law and the landowner would be subject to any orders received under the Land Titles Act for non-compliance." What is the defined "certain number of years"?

    Justine asked 5 months ago

    Thanks for your question. The recommendation is for a minimum of 10 years.

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    Not sure if this idea is included in your final report - scheduled for release this week and to be presented to council May 8th - but in keeping with multiple calls that the City not relinquish control of any public land or property.. IDEA: create a Community Land Trust (CLT). CLTs obtain and perpetually hold land and housing to preserve affordability by separating land ownership (owned by the CLT) from ownership of the housing or buildings on the land. The main over-arching aim of a CLT, based on an ethic of housing as a human right, is to prevent housing from being commodified. CLT's offer financial counselling to members to create wealth in other avenues, less connected to basic needs such as housing. Of course, being able to afford housing in itself frees up/creates wealth . CLTs are membership-based organizations that are governed (equally) by an elected tripartite board of 1) lease holders and renters, 2) community members, 3) public servants, and non-profit expert providers. This model is used to preserve farmland and green space as well. More Information: Parkdale CLT (GTA): http://www.pnIt.ca Agrarian Trust (US): https://agrariantrust.org Canadian Network of CLIs: http://www.communityland.ca

    MzNiks asked 5 months ago

     

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    With regards to existing affordable housing in Stratford and in line with question 13 of you public survey. What policies/incentive programs will “be implemented to keep housing at an attainable price?” As Jason Davis pointed out, in his Jan 23rd delegation to Council, rent/housing prices have increased by 202% in the past 6 years (2016 - 2021). Not sure how much worse it’s gotten in 2022. Still, there remain pre-existing 2 bedroom rentals in Stratford for $750-$800/mth. In light of Bill 23’s removal of protections for renters, I worry that your Community Improvement Plan could inadvertently create 'opportunities' for landlords to renovict tenants, then receive government incentives to create housing at a higher rate.

    MzNiks asked 8 months ago

    Thank you for your comments.

    The Community Improvement Plan (CIP) would have certain requirements as part of the application process that would be implemented to ensure units are kept at an attainable price.

    Prior to receiving funds as part of the programs, the property owner would be required to enter into an agreement with the municipality requiring that the units developed with municipal funds must be maintained as attainable for a certain number of years. This agreement would be registered on title and listed as a restriction/obligation affecting the property's use. As on-title agreements are legally binding, the requirement for the unit to be maintained as attainable would be required by law and the landowner would be subject to any orders received under the Land Titles Act for non-compliance.

    As the incentives focus on attainable rental units, for funding that is continuous over a certain number of years (e.g. Tax Increment Grant), the landowner/landlord would be required to provide annual proof that the units are being maintained as attainable, through either rental agreements, bank statements, etc. If proof is not provided, penalties could occur, ranging in severity from the cancellation of funds to payback requirements and/or a fine.

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    IDEA: In line w Cllr Burbach’s question/comment at the Jan 23rd Council mtg. Invite cooperative housing experts (including not-for-profit experts) to join social services and reps from other housing-related gov departments in your working group. Housing developed/owned/maintained by the people who live in it can ensure it remains sustainably affordable (and in good condition) long term. This model can be applied to townhouse and tiny communities as well as multiplexes.

    MzNiks asked 8 months ago

     

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    IDEA: City acts as co-developer, partnering with future homeowners to create more diverse and attainable options for housing -  Two examples: * 1. purchasing buildings or holding city-owned buildings and servicing the buildings with heat, water etc then allowing buyers to choose/build their housing (or live/workspace) configuration (e.g. 800 sq ft 2nd floor home, 250 sq ft street level storefront, 600 sq ft street level home adjacent to 300 sq ft storefront etc).  John van Nostrand has some experience doing this in Hamilton. I suspect more local architects might also be able to take a project like this on (Robert Ritz?). * 2. purchasing land or holding city-owned land and servicing it with the infrastructure for (heat, water, foundations etc) for a number of tiny homes. Allow future homeowners to rent (at nominal rate) or hold lots in trust; then build their home at the size and configuration that is affordable for them.  The tiny homes can be constructed (secured to foundations) in such a way that they could move with the owner, down the line, leaving the (serviced) lot for another homeowner.  Again local architects have some experience with tiny design and might be able to take something like this on (eg Hive Design?). The City helping to secure contractors/materials might allow for better rates for each individual home builder/owner through bulk purchases (economy of scale).

    MzNiks asked 8 months ago

     

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    IDEA: City acts as developer, using city owned land/property and working in collaboration with architects, builders and other contractors to build/reno/maintain homes keeping purchase costs attainable and sustainably affordable (by city's OP definition) in perpetuity.

    MzNiks asked 8 months ago

     

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    IDEA: Offering incentives/subsidies/grants to potential landlords to service their properties with the infrastructure (heat, water, foundations, fire access etc) for small/tiny detached secondary suites and build grannies, garden, carriage house suites. In exchange the land owners agree to cap how much they charge for the rental ($100 per 100 sq feet)

    MzNiks asked 8 months ago

     

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    IDEA: Jason Davis’ wartime/tiny homes plan deserves consideration

    MzNiks asked 8 months ago

     

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    IDEA: Facilitating a stakeholders brainstorming session for the people who actually need affordable homes and the experts they'd like to see at the table (eg not-for-profit developers, local architects, planners from local/successful attainable/affordable housing projects, housing experts etc would go a long way to generating a more diverse, effective and sustainable Community Incentives Toolkit /Community Incentives Plan

    MzNiks asked 8 months ago

     

Page last updated: 09 May 2023, 11:55 AM