The town’s Birch Street property is back on the table for a potential County of Simcoe housing project, but if the county chooses a Collingwood property for a build, any deal with the town will come with caveats.
During council’s regular meeting on Jan. 22, councillors approved offering up town property at 7882-7888 Poplar Side Road to the County of Simcoe to build a new affordable housing project on the site. While initially defeated at committee of the whole, councillors also voted to bring back their land at 29 and 45 Birch St. into the conversation, but are setting up terms the county will have to agree to in order to build on either site.
Some of those terms approved by councillors unanimously on Monday include that any project would have to conform with surrounding neighbourhoods, that the majority of rents for the units should be affordable to middle-income households and that small-scale commercial uses be considered as part of any build on the Poplar site.
“I had some concerns about this recommendation going forward without any specific asks from our council,” said Mayor Yvonne Hamlin, who put the additional terms forward and participated remotely in discussion from the ROMA (Rural Ontario Municipal Association) Conference in Toronto.
“At the Birch property, we do have an established neighbourhood there,” she said. “Any design of a project, either to renovate or replace the existing apartments, should be compatible and sensitive.”
Middle-income households in Collingwood are defined by the town's affordable housing task force report as being between the fourth and sixth decile of affordability. In Collingwood as of 2021, the sixth decile refers to renters with incomes in the range of $51,600 and the affordability standards for that group suggest rents around $1,292.
“This is housing for people who work in Collingwood,” said Hamlin.
Another part of the motion passed by councillors also asked the county to confirm that if the county and the town ultimately do not agree on a county proposal for either property, that the town can withdraw one or both properties from consideration.
“With these things in mind, I felt I could support both properties being put into the list of properties the county is interested in,” said Hamlin.
The sole part of the motion that was defeated by councillors included that the county consider a proposal that encompasses both properties.
Coun. Kathy Jeffery said she didn’t want a sale of any property considered as any part of a negotiation.
“The non-starter for me would be if we were proposing to sell one, like Birch Street, to invest in the other, like Poplar,” said Jeffery, reminding councillors that both town staff and the affordable housing task force have advised against selling.
“We need all the properties we have. Property is hard to come by,” she said.
The properties 7882-7888 Poplar Side Road and 29 and 45 Birch St. have been identified by the town through the affordable housing task force as ripe for development of affordable housing options, and council is considering how to best support that goal.
The Johnson Trust Apartments at 29 to 45 Birch St. were originally owned by the Johnson family, where they had been converted from a lumber yard/bread distribution business. About 40 years ago, the property was given to the town and the Rotary Club of Collingwood to jointly manage. While the town owned the land, the Rotary club managed the buildings, where rent collected went toward operational costs as well as Rotary projects. Rotary provided the town notice in 2021 that it was terminating its part of the agreement. The town then retained a third-party property manager to deal with day-to-day operations. There are currently nine apartments on the site, but not all of them are occupied.
The land at 7882-7888 Poplar Sideroad is currently vacant near the roundabout at Poplar Sideroad and High Street in Collingwood’s south end.
According to town staff earlier this month, the two properties combined have an estimated sales value between $1.6 million and $3.2 million. However, if the county agrees to take the town up on either offer and come to an agreement on terms, the town will give the land to the county for zero dollars.
The county delivers both social and affordable housing for low-to-moderate income households across Simcoe County through the Simcoe County Housing Corporation. The county put out a call for proposals in 2023 for municipally-owned land to build future affordable rental, supportive and mixed-income housing projects over the next 10 years. If projects are approved, the county would take on construction costs, administration and maintenance of any new builds.
The deadline for applications is March 1. The county is expected to present the best options as part of its 10-year building plan at a County of Simcoe committee of the whole meeting this summer for approval.
Other examples of such projects across Simcoe County include 475 and 485 Second St. in Collingwood, 175 Zoo Park Road in Wasaga Beach and the Orillia Campus of Care project, which is expected to open to tenants in 2024.
As part of discussion, Jeffery noted that the town had received unsolicited offers of plans for both sites from third parties. She asked staff that the parties be made aware of the town’s unsolicited proposal process.
“We have been receiving emails from a developer or two,” said Jeffery. “I’d like the developers to be aware of that process, and I’d like to be able to refer them to the county’s process so they can participate that way.”
Valentine clarified that the affordable housing task force and staff advise against partnering with a private developer as there are legal considerations under the Municipal Act.
“I’m trying to be open and transparent with developers that they do have other opportunities,” said Jeffery.
Deputy Mayor Tim Fryer noted that the motion, while lengthy, was important to ensure the town is very clear with the county on what the town is hoping for through any project they propose.
“The more defined we can be, the better,” said Fryer.
Coun. Rob Ring was eager to see shovels in the ground.
“Whether we do it, or the county does it, whatever gets people into housing quicker is my main goal,” said Ring.
