Region eyes 2 more affordable housing properties for redevelopment

The Region of Waterloo wants to add two more affordable housing properties to a list of buildings slated for redevelopment.

The proposed construction at 1050-1064 Courtland Avenue and 440-470 Shelley Drive, both in Kitchener, would add another 122 unitsto the 70 that already exist, according to a regional staff report that goes before committee next week.

It's part of the region's broader plan to update aging Waterloo Region Housing Buildings and add at least 600 new affordable units in the next 10 years.

Aside from the Courtland Avenue and Shelley Drive buildings, the region also plans to redevelop:

• 416 Kingscourt, Waterloo.Increase in units: 73.
• 82 Wilson, Kitchener. Increase in units: 32.
• 140 Weber, Kitchener. Increase in units: 21.
• Langs Drive, Cambridge. Increase in units: 98.
• Mooregate Crescent, Kitchener. Increase in units: 323.

All in all, this would mean an increase of 669 new affordable housing units up from the region's original target of 638.

In addition to proposing new units at Courtland and Shelley, the region is also tweaking its proposal for Mooregate Crescent.Staff had originally planned for three high-rise buildings with a total of 476 units, but faced concerns about height and density.

The report estimates construction at Mooregate Crescent could begin in 2025, while the Courtland Avenue and Shelley Drive project would begin in 2026.

The region's community services committee is set to discuss the report at its meeting Tuesday, which begins at 9 a.m.