Rural township intrigued by affordable housing
Although not much happened beyond an invitation for a return visit, developer Eric Silverberg struck a note that resonated with Melancthon councillors last week.
He attended the Apr. 18 meeting to speak about building mixed housing at a lower price point.
NORTH OF SHELBURNE
The developer, Roxborough, was invited to attend after approaching council by letter for a motion of support for the company’s proposals.
One property is about 130 acres that’s immediately north of Shelburne on the west side of the highway. The other nearby parcel is smaller, about 50 acres, just off Hwy. 10 to the east on Third Line at Shelburne.
Council had earlier wondered about servicing to the property, and about potential impact on the creek that goes through the second parcel.
Unfortunately, the company planner was unable to attend on Apr. 18 for personal reasons.
MIXED HOUSING
So, the discussion stayed more in generalities, with Mr. Silverberg describing the company’s vision for a mixed community, of older people and young families.
“That’s gotten lost” in many developments, he commented.
The units could include rental, condo or freehold. A central park with some public land use would have some medium density around it and there would also be modular houses.
Coun. Bill Neilson welcomed the prospect of more modest housing.
He said the council has heard from large-scale developers before.
“They’re not interested in building attainable and affordable housing and they’re not going to build them,” was his opinion.
Coun. Neilson asked about using modular houses, as described in material supplied earlier to the township.
Mr. Silverberg said that the company has partners that can provide that product, noting builds may not have an entirely modular structure.
Coun. Ralph Moore endorsed a mid-rise building, saying he’d be happy if there were five of them, comparing that favourable to urban sprawl with single family houses.
The properties in question are farmland now, but Mr. Silverberg called the larger parcel “a very well-positioned site, being immediately adjacent” to townhouses at the north end of Shelburne across Hwy. 10 from the cemetery.
EARLY STAGES
He didn’t describe specifics of lots or layout, but a company rep will return along with a planner to answer questions from council. Melancthon will invite its planner (Dufferin County staff) to attend.
There is no planning application as yet. At this point, Roxborough is seeking a municipal support resolution that will help open some government funding doors.
The developer was asked what “attainable housing” meant for Roxborogh.
His answer was, “housing that real people can afford.” He said the company sees the stress on people as deals close now that were sold a while ago in a different environment.
Still, he added. “We can’t make it cheap. Land isn’t cheap. Construction isn’t cheap.”
But the approach of looking at modular housing and other ways to make it expedient to develop will help.
“We will do what we can to allow for those attainable units.”
Mr. Silverberg told council that there are incentives coming from CMHC for modular homes.
He added that it will take time to understand what the federal government is offering for housing within last week’s budget. That may influence the type of project.
“By the time we brought a formal application,” he said, “we would have a better understanding.”
While Melancthon’s support is being sought, Roxborough is also pursuing having the province include its land in the Shelburne settlement area.
Mr. Silverberg described Roxborough to council as a “65-plus”-year-old family business, which has done projects in Caledon, Bramalea, Whitby. He said it stands on its trustworthiness, and looks for long-term partnerships.
In a later interview, he said that his company is mostly involved in land development and has worked with other companies who do construction.
M.T. Fernandes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Dundalk Herald
