Chatham-Kent Council unanimously approved a $30.9-million construction contract for a new 72-unit affordable housing development in Wallaceburg.
The report was supported during council’s meeting Monday evening.
Council approved awarding the construction contract for the 199 Westcourt Blvd. project to S.E.M. Construction Limited at a cost of $30,943,118 excluding HST. A separate $658,019 contract amendment for consulting and contract administration services was also approved for Barry Bryan Associates.
The proposed five-storey building will include 72 residential units consisting of 37 one-bedroom, 25 two-bedroom, five three-bedroom and five four-bedroom apartments. According to the report, 50 units will be offered at affordable or deeply affordable rental rates, while the remaining 22 units will be rented at attainable market rates.
Wallaceburg Councillor Aaron Hall welcomed council’s support for the project during Monday’s meeting.
“Very thrilled to see this report come before council this evening. I’m very thankful to staff for putting this together and making this project a reality,” Hall said.
“I think it’s a great example of inter-departmental collaboration with administration and following through with a strategic direction of council and one of this term’s priorities of council as well.
“Also thankful to council for supporting this project along the way. I know it has been a couple years in the making.
“Thank-you to everyone for supporting. It’s not only great news for Wallaceburg, I’m really excited to get shovels in the ground and see shovels in the ground, but this is great news for all of Chatham-Kent as well.”
Municipal administration said demand for affordable housing in Wallaceburg continues to increase, with 333 households currently on the centralized waiting list seeking housing in the community.
“There has been no new Community Housing built (or MMAH program funding received) in Wallaceburg since funding was provided through the Ontario Housing Corporation in the 1980s,” the report stated.
Across Chatham-Kent, the centralized affordable housing waiting list has grown to 1,455 households.
“With a population of approximately 10,320 people, Wallaceburg is the second largest urban centre located in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent,” the report stated. “At present, 23% or at least 333 of the 1,455 current households on the waiting list are looking for units in Wallaceburg.”
Administration said the development is expected to house between 122 and more than 194 residents and is intended to help address housing instability while supporting long-term community growth.
The municipality said the project has secured $18.9 million in external funding through programs involving the federal and provincial governments, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Enbridge.
Council also approved $13 million in debenture financing through the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation to fund the remaining project balance over a 30-year amortization period.
The report from general manager of infrastructure and engineering services Edward Soldo stated the request-for-proposals process attracted interest from 62 contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. Seven proposals were submitted before one was withdrawn, with five advancing through the evaluation process.
According to the report, submissions from S.E.M. Construction Limited and Ball Construction Ltd. tied for the highest overall score.
“The proposal submitted by S.E.M. was deemed to be the preferred submission with the highest ranking and lowest bid price,” Soldo wrote.
Construction is expected to begin in July and continue for approximately two years, with completion anticipated in July 2028.
