They are the second largest affordable housing provider in Elgin county and earlier this month, Eastwood Housing Corporation hosted a grand opening ceremony at their 12th residential project.
The event drew a significant gathering to the five-storey, 82-unit complex known as Highview Hideaway, at 220 Highview Drive.
The building consist of one- and two-bedroom rental apartments, all at 80 per cent or lower of CMHC market rates.
Eastwood Housing CEO Jon McCurry (pictured at left) advised occupancy will be at 70 per cent later this month.
All of the units are built to Net Zero Ready Standard with the goal of full Net Zero in the future by using solar energy.
McCurry explained why a five-storey limit was agreed upon.
“We could have gone to, I think this lot was zoned to nine floors, but there was a lot of more red tape, if I can call it that, to get to nine. Where five, it was sign and go. So we just signed and went.”
McCurry pointed out that the apartments on Highview will serve as a template for future builds.
“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.”
St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston added that the latest Eastwood project is a key piece in the city’s housing puzzle.
“We’ve got to have so many buildings on the go to accomplish what we want to do at the end of the day. And currently, there’s a couple more going on. And we have to keep that method going.”
However, Preston stressed, you can’t rest on your laurels when it comes to providing affordable housing.
A key attraction at Highview Hideaway, noted 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.”
Amenities include an on-site community room, storage lockers, laundry facilities and pickleball courts.
McCurry concluded, “So it’s been a great support from the city, all the community partners, the contractors, the consultants, the engineers, the trades, just an absolutely wonderful experience. I’ll be very honest, I’m gonna go home tonight and sit in my living room and think, Wow, it’s done. Because it just seemed like this is what we lived and breathed every day.”
Written by Ian McCallum
