A proposal for 66 Ajax affordable homes would bring stacked townhouse units to 521 Rossland Road West through a partnership involving Habitat for Humanity GTA and the Town of Ajax.
Habitat GTA is proposing three-storey, stacked back-to-back townhouses with approximately 79,000 square feet of gross floor area. The organization and town describe it as one of Ontario’s largest affordable homeownership projects.
Proposal includes a range of unit sizes
The plan calls for 12 one-bedroom units, 14 three-bedroom units and 40 units with three or four bedrooms. All 66 homes would be offered through Habitat GTA’s affordable homeownership model.
Household eligibility would be set by Habitat GTA. The expected maximum income would be around the 60th percentile for Ajax, with eligible household incomes anticipated to range from approximately $70,000 to $130,000.
Housing costs would be capped at 32 per cent of household income. That calculation would include mortgage payments, condominium fees, property taxes and home insurance.
Ajax authorized $9 million
Ajax council authorized $9 million for the project in June. The amount includes $7 million connected to the land sale and $2 million for project advancement costs.
The funding draws on the town’s allocations from Ontario’s Building Faster Fund, the federal Housing Accelerator Fund and the municipal Strategic Initiatives Reserve.
Ajax Mayor Shaun Collier said the partnership is intended to give more residents access to affordable housing as the community grows. Habitat GTA chief executive Ene Underwood said the organization has increased its delivery of affordable homes in Durham Region in recent years.
Planning approvals are still required
The development is a proposal and remains subject to the municipal planning and approval process. No construction start or completion date was included in the available announcement.
Habitat GTA says it has built 26 communities and supported more than 650 families since 1988. The proposed Ajax affordable homes would add options for families, couples and individuals seeking an ownership pathway rather than market-rent housing.
