Posted On: July 19, 2024, Posted By: YorkRegion.com, Original Article
The provincial government has given Blue Door the thumbs up to build affordable housing on its Kevin’s Place property in Newmarket.
Queen’s Park has approved a minister’s zoning order (MZ0), which allows the charity to construct stacked townhouses containing 14 units at 835 Gorham St.
“We are incredibly grateful for the MZO approval, which allows us to move forward swiftly with this vital project,” Blue Door CEO Michael Braithwaite said in a statement.
“Our goal is to provide high-quality, affordable housing to those who need it most, and this development is a big step toward that mission.”
The MZO is a “significant milestone” for York Region as Blue Door continues to address the pressing issues of affordable housing in the community, according to the charity.
“The property in which Kevin’s Place resides has served the community well,” Blue Door said in a statement.
“However, the truth remains that this home was never designed to serve people experiencing homelessness and no longer meets the needs of the community.”
Kevin’s Place is a 100-year-old single-family home, with the house taking up only 30 per cent of the underutilized property, the charity said.
Blue Door says it has used the house to offer as much emergency housing as possible but “the time has come to create a new Kevin’s Place to serve the community more directly and improve the quality of life for low- to no-income families and youth.”
The townhouses will provide affordable and accessible housing, aimed at transitioning individuals and families into more permanent housing, Blue Door said.
In addition to continuing to offer emergency housing on-site, the townhouses will include a mix of two- and three-bedrooms and fully accessible ground-level units for individuals and families of all ages and abilities, it added.
Michael Laurignano, senior director of client solutions at EllisDon Community Builders, applauded the government for granting the MZO.
“This zoning order is well-earned validation of Blue Door’s tireless work to unlock the full potential of Kevin’s Place,” he said,
“The project typifies Blue Door’s ambition and its bold efforts to support vulnerable people in the community. We’re privileged to work with Blue Door and a group of like-minded consultants to plan and design the development — and we can’t wait to see construction start.”
For more information, visit bluedoor.ca