The vision behind a new affordable housing project in Bradford West Gwillimbury is becoming clearer.
During Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting, County of Simcoe councillors got a closer look at the detailed design plans for the County of Simcoe affordable housing project at 125 Simcoe Road, one part of Bradford’s Community Centre Master Plan.
Bradford’s Deputy Mayor James Leduc sent out congratulations to county staff for their work on the design.
“I think they really looked at this project and did a great job at bringing it into what we have done,” said Leduc. “They’ve really worked with our staff. The costs shown today are really well-done. They are well within line.”
The 50-unit mixed family and seniors building would be four storeys, comprised of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with commercial space filling the main floor, including a county-run social and community services office.
According to the most up-to-date costing estimates, the development is expected to cost about $28.4 million. The staff report notes that the previous estimate of $26 million has been increased due to recent construction cost inflation and a slight increase in building footprint. Rental costs per unit have not yet been released.
An estimated timeline for the build was also part of the presentation. The project is expected to go to tender in the spring of 2022, with construction to start in the summer of 2022. Construction is expected to take about 16 months, to be completed by the winter of 2023. Occupancy is planned to start in the winter of 2023/24.
Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman asked about the cost.
“The project looks beautiful. I had a different interpretation on the cost,” he said. “I know there’s a commercial piece to it, but looking at those costs separately, just the residential piece would suggest a per-unit cost of over $500,000. Am I doing the math correctly?”
General manager of corporate performance Trevor Wilcox said the math was correct.
“This is in-line with the analysis that was done recently in regards to the costs of building housing,” said Wilcox. “These are units that are built to last.”
Manager of social housing Arfona Zwiers said keeping to 50 units means there aren’t as many cost efficiencies as there might be for a build of 100-plus units.
“As well, the rising costs of construction that we’ve all seen during the pandemic and we anticipate we will continue to see,” said Zwiers.
The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury donated the land to the county for the project late last year. The town has also approved the waiving of fees for site plan, development engineering and building permit applications and has offered to contribute up to $50,000 toward the cost of relocating the overland storm water flow route from the site.
Bradford’s Community Centre Master Plan proposes construction of a new administration centre and multi-purpose building that would house community services, a performing arts centre, the County of Simcoe affordable housing project, underground parking, sheltered space for a farmers' market, and both active and passive recreational uses. The total cost, to realize all of the plan, is estimated at $107.8 million.
To read our most recent story on the Bradford Community Centre Master Plan, click here.
During Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting, County of Simcoe councillors voted in favour of transferring the Bradford lands to the Simcoe County Housing Corporation and that staff proceed with design, tendering, contract award, site preparation and construction of the project to be shovel-ready should federal or provincial funding be made available.
They also voted in favour of retaining temporary construction project support staff into permanent positions to oversee the project.
The decisions will need to be ratified at the next regular meeting of council on June 8.
