The Muskoka Community Land Trust (MCLT) is hoping to add more than 100 affordable housing units to central Huntsville.
Ben Jardine, an MCLT board member, says they’ve asked the town for a piece of land on Florence St. just west of Lorne St., to build at least 110 homes. With the potential of adding secondary suites later, Jardine says as many as 161 units could be available.
According to Jardine, prices for those units would be matched to about 20 per cent below the median income for the region. He says that means a household income of $80,000 per year could afford a home in the proposed development, coming out to around the $300,000 to $340,000 mark.
“By maintaining ownership of the land, we’re able to offer homes at a very affordable rate that are not subject to real estate market ups and downs,” says Jardine. “We own the land, so we are able to put restrictions on rent rates and future resale, so that any grants and any subsidies that are issued the first time stay in the micro-community that we’re building.”
Jardine was one of two MCLT members presenting the ask to Huntsville General Committee last week. After an almost full-day meeting, committee voted to have staff come back with options for development and how the land could be transferred over.
If all goes smoothly, Jardine says they hope to finish the technical designs by the end of the year and start building the first phase by next fall, with 14 to 16 months of construction before people can start moving in.
However, he says that all depends on how much funding they are able to secure. Jardine says they’re currently in talks with all levels of government, as well as private partners such as banks and credit unions, to source the roughly $50-million price tag. “So far the interest has been tremendous,” says Jardine.
He says donations and volunteers are always welcome via the organization’s website, although they are not yet able to provide charity tax receipts.
Jardine adds that although the Huntsville property is the MCLT’s first major project since it was formed in 2021, they hope to develop a model that can be used all throughout Muskoka.
“We have had a number of deputations to Bracebridge and Gravenhurst town councils, and we have identified land in those communities that would be really appropriate,” says Jardine, adding that they hope to know more in the coming months. “Our focus right now is primarily in Huntsville, just because this is becoming a reality, but Bracebridge isn’t too far behind.”
