Proposed land swap would pave way for Habitat homes

By: Joyanne Pursaga, Winnipeg Free Press

A unique land exchange would allow a developer to provide 10 serviced lots for affordable housing within growing suburbs in exchange for municipal land.

The proposal calls for Qualico to acquire 14.5 acres of raw, unserviced city land and give the city 10 serviced lots to transfer to Habitat for Humanity to develop in Sage Creek and Waverley West. Qualico would also pay the city about $111,000, if council’s property and development committee approves the agreement.

The land exchange is an innovative way to free up more lots throughout the city for affordable homes, said Habitat for Humanity.

“As far as I know, this is the first time (we’ve been involved in) an arrangement like this… The city is looking for creative ways to enable affordable housing solutions across the housing continuum,” said Jamie Hall, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity Manitoba.

Hall said Qualico already aims to provide diverse housing in its communities, which this proposal reflects.

Hall expects Habitat would create a duplex in each set of two connected lots, with about 1,100 square feet of space and three bedrooms per living unit.

“It’s not like we’re going to be out of place in the community… they will be equivalent (to neighbouring homes) in the way they look,” he said.

The proposed deal calls for the developer to acquire several closed rights-of-way and city lots, about seven parcels of land altogether, with a value of $1,197,075, while the 10 developer-owned lots are worth $1,086,000. Qualico’s cash payment would make up the difference.

Bryan Ward, vice-president of community development for Qualico in Manitoba, said the company has taken part in Habitat builds and fundraising in the past, so this strategy is a logical extension of that effort.

“We, for the most part, deal in market housing and this is a way for us to, hopefully, participate in ensuring that there’s affordable family homes and affordable home ownership opportunities,” said Ward. “Habitat or the city may not have an opportunity (normally) to buy serviced lots in a new neighbourhood.”

The city lands provided to Qualico in the exchange could be used to support its developments, with the space devoted to roads, as well as parts of housing lots, parks or lakes, he said.

“Those lands are just incorporated into the subdivisions, the neighbourhood design,” said Ward.

The city land set to be exchanged includes parts of Formby Avenue, Lee Boulevard and Madina Avenue, while the city will get about one acre of lots in the trade, the city notes.

“It’s raw land (that) we’re transferring… (in exchange) for serviced lots … so that’s why there’s a discrepancy between the acreage and the lots were getting,” said Gord Chappell, the city’s acting manager of real estate and land development.

Chappell said he’s not aware of the city doing any similar land exchange “in recent memory,” though the municipal government has sold lots for a dollar and offered grants to trigger more affordable housing development.

“I think this will be our first attempt to see how this works out and see if it works for all parties,” said Chappell.

Since many affordable housing projects take place in inner-city neighbourhoods, this arrangement would offer options in new areas, he said.

“It’s placing affordable housing in locations that we normally wouldn’t have access to… Developers are typically doing lot draws to builders and not often affordable housing providers, so it just gives us more variety in the market,” said Chappell.

The proposal would allow the city to make the best possible use of land that is largely unused right now, according to city council’s property and development chairman.

“It speaks to our commitment to affordable housing… that’s going to see essentially 14 acres of unused property or undevelopable property end up being 10 lots that are going to be affordable housing,” said Coun. Evan Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood).

Since average home prices have soared beyond the range of many Winnipeggers, this type of proposal could make home ownership possible for more residents, said Duncan.

Pending city approval, Hall said he hopes the first duplex can be built by next spring and all five duplexes, offering 10 homes, can be built over the next two to three years.

Proposed land swap would pave way for Habitat homes – Winnipeg Free Press