21 hours ago
Sudbury changing incentives for housing developers
With a change to financial incentives, the City of Greater Sudbury is making it easier for private developers to build new housing projects.
Construction crews are working on a new larger site for the Doghouse restaurant in Azilda.
If all goes as planned, the establishment will move next door this fall.
The owner will then have to decide what to do with what will be a vacant space.
They could be eligible for a financial incentive from the city, if they turn the building into housing.
The City of Greater Sudbury planning committee approved a new Community Improvement Plan (CIP), which combines existing financial incentives programs into one, providing cash for private developers who propose three or more new dwelling units for either market or affordable housing.
The idea is to makes it easier for private developers to create more housing across the community since it combines CIPs for strategic core areas, affordable housing, the brownfield strategy under one big plan.
'There's vacant properties, for example, the pipes are already in the ground, the sidewalks are already there, it's close to the libraries, etc. So, it makes sense for the city to provide incentives to build where we've already invested,' said senior planner Ed Landry.
Some of the new eligible areas include Azilda, Wahnapitae, Garson, Coniston and Hanmer.
'It makes sense for us to harmonize these areas. It makes sense for us at the city, but in economic development to say, 'Hey, look, we've got this package of incentives; they all align and it just it makes things clearer and easier, hopefully for the development community,' Landry said.
The new expanded areas are good news for Coun. Pauline Fortin, who said it recognizes Greater Sudbury as an amalgamated city.
'I think these programs just really help out,' Fortin said. '
'The city doesn't build housing, but we can make it easier. We can open doors if we can throw a little bit of money in that direction to help it happen, because we really do need more housing and especially with our seniors.'
The planning committee approved the change, but it still has to go through city council. If that process is rubberstamped, developers could be applying for these incentives by September.
