Image: Conceptual design of affordable housing units, proposed in Goderich.
Goderich Council has given the green light to a new county-owned apartment building in Goderich.
The proposed building would be at the site that used to be home to Victoria Public School on Gibbons Street, and would have 39 units.
Huron County Senior Planner Denise Van Amersfoort made the presentation to council, saying that the focus of the building would to be to provide supports to vulnerable individuals, namely that some apartments would be affordable units and be rented at 80% of the market value, while others would be rented out for an amount that was geared toward the leaseholder’s income.
Van Amersfoort says that the building would also have 10 supportive housing units to help find a safe, permanent home.
“The purpose with these ten units is really to help provide those wraparound permanent supports, moving away from simply a cold-weather model as a starting point for these ten individuals, these ten units, and working toward a wraparound support that can really help them have a successful tenancy, and transition out of homelessness.”
She also addressed why the county wanted to build a new apartment building in the Town of Goderich, and says, “In terms of the need across the county, Goderich has — unsurprisingly, with the number of community supports available here in Goderich — is the most desired location for individuals on our affordable housing list.”
The proposed development would require 1.1 acres of land, to accommodate the building, the necessary parking lot and green space, and to have a built-in buffer between the new building and the existing homes nearby.
Van Amersfoort adds, “There’s another four acres there that could certainly be designated for other town priorities, but it would be 1.1 acres that the county would be requesting.”
Council unanimously passed the motion that approves the transfer of the 1.1 acres for the development of the 39-unit building.
The final approval would be heard and discussed in the next term of council.