A public housing project in Wallaceburg has been sold.
Chatham-Kent council approved staff recommendations to sell units and land at 770 Wallace Street to the Ontario Aboriginal Housing Support Services Corporation.
The sale is for $500,000, as is.
Shelley Wilkins, director of housing services, said the OAHSS plan on updating all of the 19 units.
“OAHSS plan to update all of the units, and to renovate four end units to convert them into upper and lower units, with the lower units being converted to barrier-free accessible units,” Wilkins said in her report. “Adding another affordable housing provider not funded by the Municipality to the Chatham-Kent service area is an increase in service level without affecting municipal tax rates.”
Wilkins said five people currently occupy units at the location, and OAHSS has stated they will be working with them moving forward, to ensure they have subsidized housing.
“OAHSS has also indicated that they anticipate that one unit may be used for office space, at
least during the initial filling of units, for a property manager/resource staff person,” Wilkins said in her report. “Hence, a new job, whether temporary or permanent, is being added to the Wallaceburg community.”
Wilkins also said she is hopeful that having OAHSS established in Wallaceburg, that additional Aboriginal services/resources will be made more readily accessible to other Aboriginals in Chatham-Kent.
Wallaceburg Coun. Sheldon Parsons said the improvements will be a welcome addition to the neighbourhood.
“It appears run down and has for some time,” he said.
Walpole Island First Nations had expressed interest in purchasing the property, before OAHSS came forward with their offer.
