Grand opening held for affordable townhouse development in Lindsay

Bond by the River provides 12 families with affordable three-bedroom units

By kawarthaNOW -
Published
Officials at the grand opening of Bond by the River on May 1, 2019. The affordable housing project in Lindsay features 12 three-bedroom townhouse units at a cost of $997 a month, 20 per cent less than the average market price. From left to right: Erika Robson for MPP Laurie Scott, KLH Housing vice chair Pat Dunn, KLH Housing CEO Hope Lee, affordable housing consultant Nadia Venafro, City of Kawartha Lakes mayor Andy Letham, and Dylan Robichaud for MP Jamie Schmale. (Photo courtesy of City of Kawartha Lakes)
Officials at the grand opening of Bond by the River on May 1, 2019. The affordable housing project in Lindsay features 12 three-bedroom townhouse units at a cost of $997 a month, 20 per cent less than the average market price. From left to right: Erika Robson for MPP Laurie Scott, KLH Housing vice chair Pat Dunn, KLH Housing CEO Hope Lee, affordable housing consultant Nadia Venafro, City of Kawartha Lakes mayor Andy Letham, and Dylan Robichaud for MP Jamie Schmale. (Photo courtesy of City of Kawartha Lakes)

Bond by the River, an affordable housing project in Lindsay, held its grand opening on Wednesday (May 1).

Developed by the non-profit Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Housing Corporation (KLH Housing), the housing development features 12 three-bedroom townhouse units at a cost of $997 a month. The rental cost is 20 per cent less than the average market price and nine of the units have a rent geared-to-income subsidy available.

According to the City of Kawartha Lakes, more than 1,700 households in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton are on a waiting list for affordable housing. Almost a quarter of those are family households, and many on the list will wait more than three and a half years for housing.

Bond by the River provides affordable housing for 12 families in Lindsay. More than 1,700 households in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton, including almost 400 family households, are on a waiting list for affordable housing. (Photo courtesy of City of Kawartha Lakes)
Bond by the River provides affordable housing for 12 families in Lindsay. More than 1,700 households in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton, including almost 400 family households, are on a waiting list for affordable housing. (Photo courtesy of City of Kawartha Lakes)

Attendees at the grand opening included KLH Housing CEO Hope Lee, vice chair Patt Dunn, Dylan Robichaud on behalf of Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock MP Jamie Schmale, Erika Robson on behalf of Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock MPP Laurie Scott, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation affordable housing consultant Nadia Venafro, and City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham.

“I’m very pleased we have provided homes for 12 families through this project,” Mayor Letham said. “We know there are many other families on the waiting list, to find a safe, affordable home. We will continue moving forward with projects such as this to create more opportunities for affordable housing.”

Attendees toured a unit and met some of the current tenants of the development

“I have mobility issues, so I really appreciated the layout of the units and that the showers have accessibility features,” said one tenant. “We appreciate everything that has been done for us, including the thought that went into the many decisions about the units.”

The cost of the Bond by the River project was $3.5 million, funded in part by $1.8 million in revenue from the sale of older homes. To reduce the costs of the project, the City of Kawartha Lakes waived development charges, planning application fees. and building permit fees. Some funding was also provided through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

The housing project development was assisted by John O’Reilly Real Estate, Tim Welch Consulting, Wilcox Architects, MVW Construction, and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

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