City of Burlington to receive $21M in funding for housing

The City of Burlington will receive over $21 million from the federal government in an effort to increase the city’s housing supply.

Government officials gathered at city hall on Monday to make the announcement as a part of the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF).

Burlington’s latest housing action plan will use money from the federal grant to fast-track the construction of 600 new units across the city over the next three years.

In a written statement, the federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser said that same funding will go on to fast-track upwards of 5,000 units over the next decade throughout the region.

Liberal MP Karina Gould said the federal funding will amplify several initiatives the city plans to carry out.

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One of those initiatives included creating and developing a standardized, pre-approved unit design.

Other key points Gould touched on were plans to allow developers to build up to six storeys or more around major transit hubs across Burlington, allow up to four units to be built on a single lot, offer incentives for creating new rental homes that are below market rent and re-purpose already owned city lands for the creation of new units.

The city also plans to create a more streamlined approval process for developments that will reduce wait times for city permits to a period of 45 days.

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said today’s announcement is a key part of making sure Burlington remains one of the most livable cities in Canada.