Tecumseh rejects four units, risks $3.2 million in federal funding
Council narrowly voted against a motion Tuesday that would have seen three additional residential units (ARU) allowed on a single lot with certain restrictions.
It ended more than a year of contentious discussions over the matter, which was tied to nearly $4.4 million pledged to the town in March 2024 through the federal government's Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF).
'It's maybe not a clear understanding in terms of what … HAF is really all about,' said Gary McNamara, the mayor of Tecumseh, who voted in favour of the proposal.
Requirements for municipalities to permit fourplexes as-of-right became a condition of HAF funding. Under provincial legislation, applicable homes can already create two ARUs.
McNamara said the initiative was intended to create more affordability and options in the housing market.
While about $1.1 million of the funding has already been spent, the remainder is now at risk of being clawed back. The remaining $3.2 million equates to a 4.15 per cent tax levy hike, according to a staff report.
The town plans to write a letter to the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation, the administrator of the HAF, and inform them of council's decision.
'It's in their hands,' McNamara said.
Throughout the process, residents have openly voiced opposition to four units, largely due to fears over how it would impact the town's infrastructure and character. On Tuesday, one resident abruptly left council chambers after a tense exchange with McNamara.
Joe Bachetti, Teucmseh's deputy mayor, told council the attached funding should not 'outweigh' the concerns of residents.
'This is wrong and it's not what the residents are telling me they want to see, and it's certainly not my vision for the future of Tecumseh 10 or 20 years from now,' said Bachetti.
The vote to move forward with four units failed 3-4, with Bachetti, and councillors James Dorner, Rick Tonial, and Tania Jobin voting against.
Previously, the City of Windsor's application for tens of millions through HAF was rejected after city council voted against the permitting of fourplexes across the city.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
6 minutes ago
- CTV News
Residents of Saint John's new transitional housing community to move in this week
A new green zone for the homeless has been given the green light in Saint John, N.B. Residents of a new transitional housing community in Saint John will begin to move in on Friday. The Neighbourly Homes community on Egbert Street features 27 individual sleeping units, as well as shared bathrooms, showers, laundry, and kitchen spaces. Each sleeping unit includes a small desk, a single bed, an electronic tablet, and a locking door which connects to an outside courtyard. A second Neighbourly Homes community will open later this year, nearby on Thorne Avenue. Both sites will also have around-the-clock staffing. The Egbert Street site is the first to operate inside a city designated 'green zone,' defined as municipally owned properties for transitional housing and wrap-around services. 'We wanted to have a site that was on a bus route,' says Saint John mayor Donna Reardon. 'We needed a site where we could bring in water and sewerage. We wanted a site that was accessible for walking, as well.' The project is receiving $3.5 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments. The 'green zone' sites in Saint John are managed by 12 Neighbours. 'We need all kinds of solutions, this is one part of it,' says Marcel LeBrun, president of 12 Neighbours. 'It's low-cost, rapid to deploy, and we can get people housed quickly. But then, we also need to invest in more permanent supportive housing, which is also happening.' 'This is a place where we want people to be on the move,' he adds. 'When you're here, your job is working on yourself, working on the next step.' For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTV News
21 minutes ago
- CTV News
New housing project converts old hotel
Historic former Oxford Hotel in Woodstock will be renovated into apartments to provide affordable housing in the city. CTV London's Lauren Stallone reports.
CTV News
36 minutes ago
- CTV News
‘Urgent challenge': Nearly 700 housing spaces to be developed in Winnipeg
Residents of Winnipeg gather for a housing announce at Tache Avenue on July 28, 2025 (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg) The City of Winnipeg is taking a big step to increase the number of affordable housing spaces in the community. Mayor Scott Gillingham announced Monday five new properties will be built on city-owned land, adding almost 700 new units for people to live in. Of the nearly 700 units, 270 will be affordable housing. 'Housing is one of the most urgent challenges facing our city,' Gillingham said. 'For Winnipeg to grow, for our neighborhoods to thrive, for families to feel secure, people need safe, affordable places to call home.' The projects are slated for Tache Avenue, Osborne Street, and Pembina Highway, along with two on Watt Street. The project on Tache Avenue is a 65-unit apartment building with on-site disability support services, which will be developed by Réseau Compassion Network. 'We started to dream about building such a place, an intentional, accessible, affordable and inclusive living environment where people with physical disabilities could create natural and meaningful connections that would alleviate loneliness and isolation and support their own their overall well-being,' said Daniel Lussier with Réseau Compassion Network. 'It's about providing opportunities and encouraging true belonging.' The development on Pembina Highway will be overseen by Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, the Osborne Street building will be overseen by the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation. The Watt Street buildings will be developed by Futuremark Development and the Elmwood Community Resource Centre. Construction will start within one year, the city said.
