St. John’s Rezones City Land for New Affordable Housing Projects
What this means for you: If you live in St. John’s and are struggling with the high cost of rent, help is on the way. The city has just fast-tracked a piece of land to build homes specifically for people with low to moderate incomes.
The News
The City of St. John’s has officially rezoned a piece of municipal land to be used strictly for affordable housing. The property is located at 245 Forest Rd.
Instead of selling the land to private developers for market-rate condos or luxury apartments, the city is keeping control of it. They plan to transfer the land to non-profit housing providers. This removes the cost of buying land from the project, making it much cheaper to build apartments that lower-income residents can afford.
The city wants shovels in the ground by the summer construction season. They are partnering with non-profit groups to access federal money, such as the Housing Accelerator Fund, to pay for the construction.
Who is affected
- Renters in St. John’s: Anyone currently looking for an apartment knows how tight the market is. This project aims to add supply to a market that has very low vacancy rates.
- Non-profit agencies: Organizations like Stella’s Circle and Choices for Youth are expected to be the main partners. They will likely apply to build and manage the units.
- Low-income residents: While these units are not ready yet, they are being designed specifically to be financially viable for people who cannot afford current market rates.
What you should do
If you or someone you know needs affordable housing, here are the steps you can take right now:
- Watch for expressions of interest: Keep an eye on news from local non-profits like Stella’s Circle and Choices for Youth. They will be the ones announcing when they are taking over the land.
- Get on waiting lists: Most affordable housing units in the province are managed through a centralized application or specific non-profit lists. Ensure you are on the NL Housing and Renewal Corporation waiting list if you are eligible.
- Follow city council updates: The city will be deciding which non-profit gets the land. Following the City of St. John’s on social media can help you track the progress of the 245 Forest Rd. site.
Bottom line
The housing crisis in St. John's is not being solved overnight. However, this is a concrete step toward a solution. By rezoning 245 Forest Rd and handing it to non-profits, the city is trying to bypass the high costs of private development. This will not help you find an apartment tomorrow, but it creates a pipeline of new units that should be available within the next few years.
Source: SaltWire