Housing Accelerator Fund Initiatives Announcement
SASKATOON, SK (JUN 15, 2023) – The City of Saskatoon, in consultation with the Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Association and other stakeholders, has made some important decisions regarding initiatives for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) that aims to help boost housing supply in Canada.
“The HAF presents a significant opportunity to expedite the development of new housing supply and foster transformative change within the city, in areas such as land use, planning and development approvals,” said Nicole Burgess, CEO of the Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Assoiciation, “This funding program also aligns with our shared vision of creating complete, low-carbon communities that are affordable, inclusive, and diverse. By securing funding through the HAF program, the city stands to make a substantial difference in addressing housing challenges.”
Objectives of the HAF included increasing housing supply as quickly as possible, improving the approval and building process, having complete communities that are generally walkable and/or easy to get around, creating affordable housing and aiming for low-carbon communities. CMHC had suggested 25 different initiative options that the City of Saskatoon and its stakeholders thoroughly discussed, with the selection of the following 12 initiatives that support the objectives of the HAF:
- Initiative 1: Downtown Event and Entertainment District Plan (under way)
- Initiative 2: New High-Density Mixed-Use Land Use Designation in the Official Community Plan (under way)
- Initiative 3: Develop and implement Corridor Zoning Districts (under way)
- Initiative 4: Review and Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendments for Parking Requirements for Affordable Housing and residential development (in development)
- Initiative 5: Review and Propose Zoning Bylaw Amendments for Accessory Dwellings (under way)
- Initiative 6: Review of Supportive Housing Zoning Bylaw Regulations (under way)
- Initiative 7: Development Incentives Review (in development)
- Initiative 8: Disincentive program for underutilized properties (in development)
- Initiative 9: Co-locating Fire Halls and Housing (in development)
- Initiative 10: Development of City-Owned Properties (in development)
- Initiative 11: Explore changes to the development approvals processes for affordable housing projects that are consistent with the Official Community Plan (in development)
- Initiative 12: Partnering with housing providers to preserve and increase the stock of affordable housing (under way)
The City of Saskatoon is projecting the total number of incented units to be 1,335, above and beyond annual permits issued without funding.
The Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Association provided ongoing engagement and consultation throughout this process and are pleased with the application that the City of Saskatoon has put forward. In the future, engaging with local builders, developers, and stakeholders will be crucial to ensure that the initiatives incentivize the key deliverable of increasing new market rate housing supply in Saskatoon. Additionally, we requested that through these initiatives, that the City of Saskatoon looks to explore avenues for reducing costs associated with new housing construction, thus narrowing the current gap with the resale market, and ultimately incentivizing more housing starts.
For more information on the City of Saskatoon’s Housing Accelerator Fund application for Saskatoon & Region, please contact Nicole Burgess at 306-955-5188 or by emailing ceo@saskatoonhomebuilders.com.
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Media Contact:
Kirsten Szwydky | Marketing & Communications Coordinator
306-955-5188
marketing@saskatoonhomebuilders.com
The Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Association (SRHBA) is the professional association representing approximately 245 companies involved in the housing industry and provides the only certifications available for professional home builders and renovators. It is the expert voice focused on improving affordability, quality and choice of housing in Saskatoon and Region, and works collaboratively with stakeholders and governments to get there.
For more information, visit: www.saskatoonhomebuilders.com.
