CityHousing Hamilton’s West Harbour properties of Jamesville and 500 MacNab St N will be undergoing a transformation redevelopment, shifting the conversation from social housing as a liability to social housing as a vital part of a complete community.
For Jamesville, CHH is intent on bringing together innovations in land-use planning, building design, financial structure and community benefit in a best-in-class redevelopment. A Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI), which sought to identify development concepts that would maximize social benefit and financial sustainability, closed in July 2017 with seven development teams having responded. Next steps already underway involve developing a procurement process that will further define the scope of the project and result in the selection of the ideal development partner. One on the key goals of the project is to maintain affordability in the new development, with approximately 50 social housing units being targeted as a minimum.
For 500 MacNab St N, CHH is embarking on a ground-breaking project to rehabilitate the 50 year old 17-storey apartment tower using an ultra-low energy retrofit standard. A feasibility study and business case have been created which outline the pathway to not just restoring the 146 unit affordable housing building, but upgrading it into high-quality affordable housing for seniors. Currently CHH is continuing work to find financial support to make this transformational full-building renovation possible.
