They are the second largest affordable housing provider in Elgin county and in September, 2024, Eastwood Housing Corporation hosted a ground-breaking ceremony for one of their largest undertakings (see photo below).
The event drew a significant gathering to the vacant lot at 220 Highview Drive, just south of Wellington Street.
Just shy of 18 months later, the finishing touches are being undertaken on the five-storey, 82-unit complex known as Highview Hideaway, Eastwood’s 12th residential project which brings their total number of housing units to just over 400 in St. Thomas and Elgin.
myFM recently toured Highview Hideaway with Eastwood Housing Corporation CEO Jon McCurry, who showcased a kitchen in a one-bedroom unit. With each unit housing a heat pump system.
All units will be built to Net Zero Ready Standard with the goal of full Net Zero in the future by using solar energy.
McCurry noted, “And as you can feel, we’re up on the fifth floor now. It’s January and I know if I lived here, I wouldn’t have any heat on, because it’s warm enough. And this (heat pump) unit isn’t on, actually.”
The majority of units in the complex are one bedroom, with some two-bedroom and studio apartments available.
The 82 units help fill the urgent need for affordable housing units in St. Thomas.
McCurry pointed out that affordable rent is 80% or less than the median market rates from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation which are set every year.
He added, “There are available housing allowances, housing subsidies through the City of St. Thomas that can help tenants with their rent.”
While nothing has been firmed up at this stage, McCurry indicated there could possibly be an office on site dealing with social service issues for tenants.
The apartments on Highview will serve as a template for future builds, added McCurry.
“The idea is, once we get this building up and running, we want to design a building we can just replicate. This would be a template and, God willing, we would put up another one, and then another one and another one.”
A key attraction at Highview Hideaway, stressed McCurry, is the location.
“It’s fantastic. We’re on a bus route, the mall’s (The Elgin Centre) right there, you are within walking distance of every amenity you need so, yes, it is a great location.”
Highview Hideaway will include an on-site community room, storage lockers, laundry facilities and pickleball courts, with occupancy scheduled to begin in July.
And, teaming up with Doug Tarry Homes, the project is not solely about affordability.
We spoke with Doug Tarry at the ground-breaking ceremony about this being a case of a community of developers, architects and builders coming together to benefit the community at large.”
He advised, “What I love about it is they are coming together, all the different facets, from the local government to the federal government to the developers who say hey, we can do better.
“And we need to take care of as many people as we possibly can. Housing is a basic human right, we have to have it.”
Eastwood Housing Corp. will own and operate the property and provide all tenant and maintenance services.
The projected cost of the undertaking is just over $28 million, with the City of St. Thomas contributing $3 million.
Eastwood is a Christian, non-profit, charitable organization that also works with the YWCA in providing three townhouse units for families and a pair of townhouses for youth experiencing homelessness.
Written by Ian McCallum
