Ontario Construction News staff writer
The federal government says it has identified 32 government-owned properties that could be leased and adapted for housing development in Ontario, of which 22 are within the City of Ottawa.
However, while politicians at a media event to publicize the Canada Public Land Bank last Thursday (Aug. 28) say the federal government is working to unlock 3.87 million new homes by 2031 through its overall strategies, it is unclear how quickly most of the 56 sites across the country, including those in Ontario, will see shovels in the ground.
Jenna Sudds (MP for Kanata-Carleton) with Ottawa-Vanier Liberal MPs Mona Fortier co-ordinated the media announcement at a housing development at the former Rockcliffe Air Base; however, the overall area has been under development for more than a decade.
Of the 56 sites listed in the land bank, only five are ready for immediate development with invitations from public and private sector organizers to submit proposals. The others are listed as “open for feedback,” a much more nebulous and uncertain status.
Not surprisingly, given Ottawa’s status as Canada’s capital city, more than a third of the sites nation-wide are within the eastern Ontario city. (However no properties are currently listed on the Gatineau, Quebec side of the river.)
The government says it intends to offer long-term leases, rather than sell, the properties, to ensure costs are affordable. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. will administer the land bank and leasing process, and developers can incorporate other incentives and programs into their development proposals.
Among the Ottawa properties, two are on the Canada Land Company’s Wateridge Village at the former Rockcliffe air base.
These sites could accommodate 495 units of housing on 1.6 hectares. (The government expects 30 per cent – or 148 units) will be dedicated to affordable housing.)
Nationally, the government asserts that the land bank includes 305 hectares of land, the equivalent of 2,000 hockey rinks or 400 Canadian football fields.
“In Ottawa, we have the land we need to build more homes, and we’re going to put it to use,” said Sudds, minister of Families, Children and Social Development. “By getting more built on on federal land, we’re going to give families in our communities a place to call home at prices they can afford.”
“Properties were selected because of their suitability for housing development,” says a statement on the land bank’s website.
“We are continuing to review federal surplus and underutilized properties, as well as actively working with partners to identify more properties for development. If you are aware of a federal property that is currently not in use and has housing potential, please email us the location and a brief proposal at terrainspublics-publiclands@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca . . . You can also provide us with ideas directly from the public land mapping tool.
“All properties included in the tool will be ready to be released as soon as possible,” the site statement says.
Ottawa-area land bank properties include:
- Two listings around Wateridge Village, including one taking applications;
- 171-181 Bank St., part of L’Esplanade Laurier;
- Six listings on Tremblay Road west of St. Laurent Boulevard;
- Five at Tunney’s Pasture: One at 100 Chardon Dr. and four along the Colombine Driveway;
- Four at Heron Road and Riverside Drive: Specifically, 1500 Bronson Ave., 875 Heron Rd., 2670 Riverside Dr. and 2720 Riverside Dr.;
- 122 Bank St., the Jackson Building;
- 1745 Alta Vista Dr., the National Defence Medical Centre;
- 1495 Heron Rd., the former Federal Study Centre; and
- 552 Booth St., a former Natural Resources site.