Ontario Construction News staff writer
Aligning with growth in commercial and industrial sectors, Greater Sudbury’s residential sector continues to see strong investment in multi-unit and single-family dwellings. In 2022, the combined value of construction for new and renovated residential projects was $119 million and with 457 units of new housing, the highest number in the last five years.
Also, modernization and redevelopment of many existing buildings created new residential units in the city.
“We are seizing every opportunity to grow and strengthen Greater Sudbury’s economy,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre. “At the same time, we must ensure we can accommodate the various housing needs of our growing population.
Staff has been directed to complete a supply strategy by the end of 2023, to provide council with a clear summary of current housing-related initiatives, as well as recommendations on how Greater Sudbury can grow while helping the province meet its goal of building 1.5 million new homes over the next 10 years.
“I am hopeful that we can provide the conditions to encourage thoughtful, targeted and sustainable residential development,” Lefebvre said.
In 2022, projects with a combined construction value of $86.6 million covering all sectors, received building permits, including:
- Increased bed capacity project at Health Sciences North
- Modifications at the SNOLAB
- Construction of Cambrian College’s battery electric vehicle lab
- Installation of the steel gantry tower and exploration shaft hoist house at Vale
Also, the city embarked on a review of community improvement plans (CIPs) to support future development opportunities. Council adopted the new Strategic Core Area CIP to help rejuvenate areas in the city with funding incentives such as grants, loans and rebate programs.
“We continue to find new innovative opportunities to collaborate with our partners, stakeholders and businesses to attract newcomers and investment to our community,” said Chief Administrative Officer Ed Archer. “We continue to implement initiatives that streamline development approvals and enable growth.”
To further support development in the community, the one-stop services development counter opened at Tom Davies Square, providing more convenient access to services, including permit applications. This innovation makes it easier for development representatives to connect with Building, Planning and Technical Services, reducing the number of steps involved in making their, or their clients’, projects become reality.