Chatham-Kent is moving forward with plans for an affordable housing project in Blenheim that will target families as tenants.
Municipal councillors voted Monday to spend just under a quarter million dollars for some architectural drawings for a 17-family affordable housing unit at 36 McGeorge Street in Blenheim.
ROA Studios Inc. architectural services will take the lead on the drawings for the project, which will include 15 three-bedroom units and two four-bedroom units.
"The project will target families as tenants," said Director of Housing Services Ray Harper. "There are currently no multi-bedroom affordable housing units in Blenheim."
The architectural services are needed in order to complete an upcoming request for proposals to build the structure.
Chatham-Kent Housing Services has also applied for government funding to help pay for the development.
"These are 17 family units that are desperately needed, not only across the municipality but in Blenheim specifically," said Councillor Trevor Thompson. "It's been quite some time since we have had an affordable build there."
Rents at 36 McGeorge will be set at 80 per cent of the average market for all 17 units. The building will have a fully universally accessible design and will also contain two fully accessible units.
The new development will be adjacent to Sprucedale Manor which is a 21-one-bedroom rent-geared-to-income housing complex.
"Affordable and attainable housing is such a critical thing in our community right now so I am excited to see this coming to Chatham-Kent," said Councillor Alysson Storey.
The municipality is reporting there are five affordable housing builds that will be finished next year, including a similar build in Chatham that will house 27 affordable units.