With a land sale now finalized, Northumberland County is moving ahead with the next steps towards increasing the supply of affordable and attainable housing in the county.
Northumberland County announced March 15 the conclusion of a successful negotiation process with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) to acquire a 14-acre parcel of land located at 699 Westwood Drive and 637 Burwash Street in Cobourg.
The property, previously owned by KPRDSB, was declared surplus by the board and placed on the market under the requirements of Ontario Regulation 444/98. Northumberland County purchased the property for $1.5 million, with another $250,000 per developable acre of land — up to 10 acres — to be paid following environmental assessments, for a total investment at or below $4 million.
The county bought the land with the intent of building more affordable and attainable housing.
“The next steps include planning, zoning, and environmental studies to assess the exact amount of developable land,” Kate Campbell, Northumberland County’s communications director, told kawarthaNOW. “Studies will begin in the next few months.”
Campbell said timeframes for developing the land “will be dependent on the findings of these studies and funding being secured.”
The negotiation process, which began in October 2023 following direction from county council, involved planning and consultation between the county and the school board to evaluate the land’s potential for housing development. The process also encompassed detailed consultation with the Town of Cobourg and the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority.
“This acquisition underscores our commitment to meeting the housing needs of residents by creating the conditions to actively increase the local stock of affordable housing,” said Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander in a media release.
“By strategically acquiring this property, we are taking proactive steps to build a stronger, more resilient community. As new affordable housing projects are proposed and funding is secured, having this land at the ready will expedite progress to make more affordable and attainable housing options available.”
The future development of the 14 acres, adjacent to Westwood Park, is subject to standard zoning and environmental reviews.
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Northumberland County for the sale of the Westwood Drive property at fair market value,” said Jaine Klassen Jeninga, chair of the KPRDSB.
“This transaction not only furthers our shared goals of community development but also ensures that the land will be utilized to benefit the residents and community of Northumberland.”
Northumberland County is the sole shareholder of Northumberland County Housing Corporation (NCHC) — the primary provider of affordable housing services in Northumberland. The NCHC currently manages 373 geared-to-income and market rate affordable housing units.
The county said the acquisition of 699 Westwood Drive presents a significant opportunity for future partnership between the county and NCHC to further address housing affordability and accessibility in Northumberland.
