Borden-Carleton, P.E.I., seeking developers for Read Road properties
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BORDEN-CARLETON, P.E.I. — Borden-Carleton is rising – significantly, its enterprise neighborhood.
With extra enterprise comes extra individuals, which suggests a notable want for extra housing, mentioned Jim Wentzell, the city’s chief administrative officer.
“That is an excessive want,” mentioned Wentzell. “Individuals can say, ‘Oh, there’s a necessity in every single place in P.E.I.,’ nevertheless it’s even slightly larger for Borden-Carleton. We’re surrounded by fairly a little bit of business, and that business employs lots of people who’re on the lookout for housing.”
In an effort to assist fill that want, the city has put out a request for proposal (RFP) on the lookout for somebody to construct housing on two plots of land owned by the city, situated on Learn Highway.
It’s not the primary time the city has sought to develop its personal vacant land, mentioned Wentzell.
“In February 2021, the city realized that there’s fairly a necessity for housing right here within the city,” he mentioned.
RFPs
At the moment, it put out RFPs for land on Carleton Road, in addition to the identical lot on Learn Highway.
Though there was a great response, solely the Carleton Road growth went forward. At the moment, there are two four-unit buildings there, and a 3rd is deliberate with 5 models.
The identical developer had additionally expressed curiosity in constructing eight buildings – 62 models complete – on the Learn Highway property, although it by no means got here to fruition. Nonetheless, the city by no means gave up on its housing plans there.
“There’s a want for every type of housing within the city,” mentioned Wentzell. “We wish to see that property developed. It’s a great location … as a result of it’s proper throughout from the varsity, it’s close to the sector and it’s close to the path.”
As soon as the city approves a growth, the land will promote for $100,000, though there may be an incentive for the builder within the type of a rebate over 5 years. The rebate will be as much as 100 per cent, relying on which sort of growth and occupancy.
A provincewide want
Satyajit Sen, coverage and particular tasks advisor for the Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities, mentioned that housing is in demand all throughout P.E.I., and initiatives like Borden-Carleton’s serve to assist curb the disaster.
“It’s wonderful, really,” mentioned Sen. “It’s nice to see these developments really taking place inside the municipal boundaries. It brings density to the city, it additionally incentivizes extra clustered growth.”
Sen mentioned he wish to see different Island communities observe swimsuit and do one thing just like what Borden-Carleton is doing.
“Completely,” he mentioned. “I feel one of the crucial vital issues can be to permit for flexibility in such developments.
“For instance, you must have … blended developments.… It’s important to have a look at the inhabitants and the demand, you must take that into consideration and provide you with options.”
Extra housing
With the RFP, there may be not one particular sort of housing the city is on the lookout for on the Learn Highway property. As a substitute, council will contemplate no matter is proposed, be it townhouses, residences or single-family properties, mentioned Wentzell.
As there are two heaps accessible, the city can be open to at least one developer shopping for each, or two builders shopping for one lot every.
Nonetheless, as soon as there may be housing on Learn Highway, the city hopes that won’t be the tip of recent properties within the space. Wentzell mentioned that the city would additionally wish to see extra of its land – each provincially and privately owned – developed, as nicely.
“I feel the land is obtainable, it’s only a matter of getting somebody to take an opportunity on Borden-Carleton,” he mentioned. “I don’t actually consider there’s an opportunity. To me, the housing will be stuffed … earlier than they construct them.”
The RFP closes on Nov. 10.
Kristin Gardiner is a reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. She will be reached by e mail at [email protected] and adopted on X @KristinGardiner.
