The federal government has announced it is committing nearly $16 million to an affordable housing complex at 1 North Front Street.
The complex is a former federal services building that is in the process of being converted to affordable housing for Indigenous Peoples with a focus on women and children fleeing violence.
Work on the project is being done between three First Nations groups (Missanabie Cree First Nation, Garden River First Nation, and Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte) and Summers and Co. Developments Inc.
Once completed, the housing complex, called Sagonaska Place, will have 38 new housing units. Of those 38 units, 19 will be affordable.
President and CEO of Summers and Co. Developments Inc., Rick Summers, says demand is already high for the affordable units.
“We are in the screening process (with) our leasing team and we’ve received probably close to 200 applications by now,” Summers tells Quinte News.
“This is without even marketing … we haven’t really promoted at all, people just see what’s going on and they know it’s here.”
Accessible housing unit within the new affordable housing complex being converted from a former federal services building at 1 North Front Street. February 15, 2024 (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
Summers says among the applications is a story of a woman who is in need of not only affordable housing, but accessible housing.
“She’s been on the list since she was 18 years old and she’s now in her mid 30s,” Summers recalled.
“So now she finally can, because of this project and the people doing their part, she can actually get a beautiful place to live.”
Eight of the housing units in the building will be fully accessible.
Solar panels at the top of the building, February 15, 2024. (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
The property was transferred from Public Services and Procurement Canada to community through the Federal Lands Initiative.
Funding of the project is broken down as follows:
- $11.5 million from the Affordable Housing Fund
- $4 million under the Federal Lands Initiative
- $127,600 in SEED funding
- $1,065,000 in Cash Equity and $212,750 in Land Equity from Belleville Affordable Housing L.P.
“We love this because this is an adaptive reuse project and it’s a conversion project,” Summers said.
“So we believe that they can be better, faster, cheaper and greener. Because you’re recycling a building. You’re making use of the existing building.”
Conversion of the building began in February 2023 with the conversion expected to end in March 2024.
