Perth’s affordable housing project gets bigger

The town of Perth’s zoning requirements have unexpectedly quadrupled the size of St James the Apostle’s affordable housing project.

During last fall’s municipal election campaign Mayor Judy Brown promised to provide town-owned land for the project. Upon inspection, it turned out that the only suitable land is zoned for 12 to 20 units of affordable housing.

As a result, St James has undertaken “a breathtaking increase in our goal,” the Rev Canon Kenneth Davis says – from three units to 12.

The St James team, through a community group known as Caring Community Housing Initiative Perth (CCHIP), is working with the town and Carebridge Community Support, Lanark County’s affordable housing and social service agency, on an expanded project.  This involves revising a memorandum of understanding whereby Carebridge becomes the owner and developer of the property.

The first step was a meeting with the town’s development strategy team, chaired by town planner Joanna Bowes. “It was very encouraging,” Canon Davis says. “The staff are sending us their ‘shopping list’ of design and development recommendations to apply for the land and develop it, including the gift of land and the waiving of development fees.”

The designated land is one and a half blocks away from Perth’s main street and across from the town’s largest public school. While there has been no expressed nimbyism (not in my back yard) objections, the St James team are taking steps to head it off as much as possible.

The town has a provision that anyone resident within 150 metres of the development can make representation up to and including an appeal.

“We are optimistic,” Canon Davis says. “We have begun a process at St James to help people adopt the word yimby (yes in my back yard), and we hope to have it taken on by many in Perth.”

The CCHIP team are working with architect Gillian McAllister on two options for a building: one with four units on three floors, another with six on two floors. Models will be available to show neighbours that the building will not restrict sunlight. In both models four of the units will be fully accessible, four will have more than one bedroom and four will be single units.

The original plan called for only three units to be completed each year for three years. The expansion makes the project eligible for grants from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), where five units are the minimum to qualify, as well as other government support.

Although the project will be larger, the fundraising goal of $750,000 may not have to be changed. Donations are being channelled through the Perth and District Community Foundation.

Last year, St James recruited a team of six community leaders outside the parish to work with three representatives of the church as a steering committee under the CCHIP banner.

Brian Perkin, a director of the Perth and District Chamber of Commerce, in his capacity as communications and community liaison for CCHIP has arranged through Algonquin College for the donation of a logo.

St James has about $16,000 in available funds – seed money from the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa and from its own fundraising – to cover immediate costs such as revamping a website, surveys and architectural revisions.