Hastings-Quinte Community and Human Services Chair Belleville Councillor Garnet Thompson and Executive Director Erin Rivers, December 13, 2017 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
UPDATED: 2 p.m.:
The Home for Good affordable housing project’s coming to Belleville.
At the Community and Human Services Hastings-Quinte Committee meeting Wednesday, officials announced a Sidney Street property in Belleville will be the site for a 40-unit affordable housing complex.
Chair Councillor Garnet Thompson says Geerstma Construction was the sole bidder at $7.3 million, about $1 million over original estimates. He admits this is a concern but says it includes the provision for a change to cement walls, and winter construction since the project has to be completed on a short deadline.
Staff are reviewing options for additional capital contributions from project partners, a number of local agencies, for the housing.
More than $5 million of the funding comes from the province with another $1.4 million for operating funding over the next three years.
Thompson says it is important to meet the short deadlines.
Hastings County has to approve the deal by December 31 to be eligible for the funding. County council will meet in special session December 19 to deal with the committee recommendation and meet the deadline.
Thompson says more than 1,200 people are on the waiting list for affordable housing and officials do not want to lose the provincial funding.
Both Belleville and Quinte West were eligible for the project. The successful bidder had to have a specific site available for the project.
Construction is expected to begin in the spring and take about 10 months.
