[ad_1]
\n<\/p>\n
A Hamilton non-profit housing organization has broken ground to expand an existing complex on Upper Wentworth Street.<\/p>\n
The 126-unit, eight-storey, mixed-income apartment building is an extension of their townhouse complex on the city\u2019s south mountain.<\/p>\n
Currently, 1540 Upper Wentworth St. has 85 townhouses. In this development, 15 of them are proposed to be removed to increase the onsite unit count to 126.<\/p>\n
The $60 million project, located near Rymal Road, will have 50 deeply affordable units for families waiting for subsidized housing.<\/p>\n
Another 10 units will provide supportive housing for people with developmental disabilities and 74 units will be lower-end market rent.<\/p>\n
According to Hamilton East Kiwanis Non-Profit Homes executive director Brian Sibley, the project first came to light in 2018. It underwent a one-year rezoning process, two-years of site planning, is expected to take two-years to build and completion\/occupancy is expected in Q1 2027.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe total cost (hard and soft costs) is $60 million but the construction cost is around $45 million,\u201d said Sibley, with the project able to acquire the full capital stack in fall 2024.<\/p>\n
Here is a cost breakdown:<\/p>\n
With construction beginning seven-years after project conception, Sibley outlined the challenges of getting it off the ground with the COVID-19 pandemic leading to issues, cost escalation and the large size that required rezoning and extensive site planning.<\/p>\n
\u201cLots of changes to the various funding programs led to the need for the development of many revised business cases to ensure project sustainability,\u201d said Sibley.<\/p>\n
Both the architect and builder were contracted through an extensive procurement process. The architect being SRM Architects and the builder, Schilthuis Construction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to the Kiwanis website, \u201cThe building is highly energy-efficient, achieving a LEED-Gold level of performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked how this build compares to other Kiwanis projects in Hamilton, Sibley pointed to the $21-million, 60-unit recently completed Jack MacDonald Apartments at 6 Acorn Street. It consists of 32 deeply affordable units, 16 units of supportive housing for personals with developmental disabilities and 12-units at lower-end market value.<\/p>\n
He also compared it to the $23-million, 55-unit, all-seniors building at 1362 Barton St. E. That makes up 17 units of deeply affordable housing and 38 units at lower-end market.<\/p>\n
The Upper Wentworth Street project predates the Hamilton Housing Secretariat, but Sibley said it has been \u201cclosely involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hamilton City Council established the Housing Secretariat in April 2023. Its objective is to facilitate housing solutions that result in safe, affordable, rental and ownership housing for lower-income residents.<\/p>\n
Kiwanis currently operates approximately 1,100 deeply affordable units in the Hamilton region with a goal to create an additional 400 units by 2028.<\/p>\n
In working with various partners, they offer supportive housing to people living with developmental or physical disabilities.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n