Kiwanis House site in Elmira to become affordable-housing project

Steve Kannon Observer Staff

THE FORMER KIWANIS

HOUSE PROPERTY in Elmira is now earmarked for an affordable-housing project, with the township turning the space over to a charitable organization planning to build 24 backto-back townhouses.

Elmira-based Beyond Housing (formerly

MennoHomes) submitted the sole proposal for the site, which Woolwich last year declared as surplus in order to develop affordable housing, director of development services Deanne Friess said.

Under a plan approved this week by council, Beyond Homes will build the two-bedroom units, renting three quarters of them at rates below 80 per cent of the mid-market rent, meaning more of the units will be deemed affordable than the township’s target of 50 per cent. Rents will range from $550 to $900 per month.

The property will be sold to the non-profit group for about $30,000, offsetting the township’s costs for legal, surveying and completion of the ‘record