At City Hall on October 1, 2024, the City of Wrenford announced that the Housing Land Bank has identified a new list of surplus and underutilized sites ready for affordable housing development. The announcement supports the broader goals of the Wrenford Housing Strategy and aims to increase the city's housing supply.
Administration, led by the Infrastructure and Planning department, has reviewed city-owned parcels and former municipal sites to find locations that meet zoning, access, and environmental guidelines. The selected sites span several neighbourhoods, including Northgate and Benchlands, where you can already explore side-lot housing options through the Neighbourhood Side-Lot Programme.
Alongside the land identification, Council has approved a series of administrative actions to speed up development. These include fast-tracking zoning and permitting processes for applications seeking funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation or the Province of Ontario. The City will also review municipal fees to ensure they remain eligible expenses in future incentive programmes, and will explore property tax exemptions to help non-profit developers keep rents affordable.
"Identifying the right land is only the first step," says City Manager Robert Eng. "By fast-tracking permits, adjusting fees, and making surplus city land available at reduced costs, we are removing the roadblocks that delay housing projects. We want developers and non-profit partners to move quickly so we can get more homes built for Wrenford families."
The City is updating its Affordable Housing Lands Policy to clarify how properties will be allocated. If you are a developer or housing provider, you can apply during the four annual intake periods. Properties appraised at $75,000 or less will be available for sale or lease at a nominal fee of $1.00 to eligible land trusts and community housing groups.
You can find the full list of identified sites, application guidelines, and intake dates on the Housing section of the City website. The City will host information sessions in Room 106 of City Hall throughout the fall to help you prepare your proposals.
For more information on the Housing Land Bank, visit Apply for housing land bank.