Guelph (Jan 12) – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today announced an agreement with the City of Guelph to fast-track nearly 750 new housing units over the next three years. This will help spur the construction of 9,450 homes here over the next decade.
Under the Housing Accelerator Fund, this agreement will provide over $21.4 million to eliminate barriers to build housing faster and allow for more options in the city, including the development of missing middle housing and additional housing units on existing property.
Guelph will permit the building of multiplexes higher than four storeys and will allow more than four units per residential lot. As part of the agreement, the city will also work to streamline zoning bylaw approvals, create more residential housing programs, explore parking reduction policies, and implement a new permitting system. Guelph will also explore ways to use surplus city-owned land to create more housing development.
The Housing Accelerator Fund is helping cut red tape and fast-track the construction of over 400,000 new homes for people in towns, cities, and Indigenous communities across Canada over the next decade. It asks for innovative action plans from local governments, and once approved, provides upfront funding to ensure the timely building of new homes, as well as additional funds upon delivering results. Local governments are encouraged to think big and be bold in their approaches, which could include accelerating project timelines, allowing increased housing density, and encouraging affordable housing units.
Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie says that the Housing Accelerator Fund announcement is a big leap forward for in addressing the housing crisis in his city.
“Having the federal government at the table allows us to address Guelph’s housing shortage faster and with more affordable solutions,” Guthrie stated adding that it was a “real win-win for our community!”
