With rising costs making it a challenge for many Canadians to find an affordable home, Canada Lands Company is exploring new ways to address the ongoing housing crisis. Following the Budget 2024 announcement, the federal government has committed to unlocking 250,000 new homes by 2031, as part of the Public Lands for Homes Plan. Through this plan, Canada Lands’ Long Term Lease program will expedite the development of over 1,000 housing units to allow housing providers new opportunities to enable much needed housing.
Canada Lands Company is making the below five parcels of land immediately available on a long-term nominal value lease basis to housing sector providers to help develop new housing in existing Canada Lands projects. A proposal process was launched on August 25, see below to learn more about the five available parcels.
- Arbo Downsview, Toronto ON
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Request for Expression of Interest (RFEOI)
1350 Sheppard Ave W. North York, ON M3K 2C5
The site is located within the first phase of the Arbo neighbourhood in Toronto and is aiming to provide about 280 units of housing with minimum 30% dedicated affordable homes. This parcel is 1-hectare (2.4-acres), is currently vacant and will be available at a discounted lease rate.
Arbo is one of five planned neighbourhoods that surround Downsview Park in Toronto. It is a master planned, mixed-use community that offers housing, including affordable housing and homes for seniors, commercial, retail and services within close proximity to Downsview Park Station TTC and GO Stations. Arbo will bring new parks and green spaces, including the preservation of the heritage woodlot that bring residents and visitors close to nature. Canada Lands is recommending apartment housing be considered as all or part of this initiative for Arbo.
Affordability: The minimum requirement for affordability is established by the FLI program, at least 30% of the units must be made available at rents not more than 80% of the Median Market Rental Rent, as established by CMHC, within the City of Toronto.
Accessibility: 20% of all units must meet or exceed accessibility standards as prescribed in the RFEOI, while the entire project – including common areas and dwelling units, must have universal accessibility incorporated into the design.
Energy efficiency: The project is required to achieve improved energy performance, which will be demonstrated by modelling a decrease in energy consumption and/or greenhouse gas emissions as outlined in the RFEOI.
Work with the municipality is underway to finalize the subdivision approval for the parcel.
To learn more about Arbo and how to submit an application, please visit the CMHC website.
- 125 Houde Street (Côte-de-Liesse), Montréal QC
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Request for Expression of Interest (RFEOI)
125 Houde Street, Saint-Laurent, QC
The parcel at 125 Houde Street is part of Canada Lands’ Côte-de-Liesse site that will be repurposed into residential units while respecting the existing heritage of the site. The property is 0.38 hectares (0.93 acres) and will enable 110 housing units. Côte-de-Liesse is conveniently located within 750 metres from a planned Reseau express métropolitain rapid transit station expected to be complete by 2025. The site is adjacent to an existing daycare and is part of an exciting, master planned redevelopment that will see a mixed-use community with both market and non-market housing, employment and commercial uses emerge in the Borough of St. Laurent.
Affordability: The minimum requirement for affordability is established by the FLI program, at least 30% of the units must be made available at rents not more than 80% of the Median Market Rental Rent, as established by CMHC, for the area. .
Accessibility: 20% of all units must meet or exceed accessibility standards as prescribed in the RFEOI, while the entire project – including common areas and dwelling units, must have universal accessibility incorporated into the design.
Energy efficiency: The project is required to achieve improved energy performance, which will be demonstrated by modelling a decrease in energy consumption and/or greenhouse gas emissions as outlined in the RFEOI.
The Côte-de-Liesse property was formerly occupied by the National Film Board where it played a role as an engine to propel the Canadian film industry. The redevelopment of the site will see a vibrant mixed-use community emerge in the Borough of St. Laurent.
To learn more about Côte-de-Liesse and how to submit an application, please visit the CMHC website.
- Currie, Calgary AB
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Property Application
3830 Quesnay Wood Dr SW
The site is located within Canada Lands’ Currie development and is planned for a six-storey apartment building of about 99 units of housing a minimum of 30% of those must be dedicated to affordable housing. With an area of 0.4-hectares (0.9-acres), the site is already zoned and ready for development. The site will offer ease of access to green spaces, parks, transit, schools, restaurants within walking distance. Future amenities will include new retail and commercial spaces, also within walking distance.
The Currie neighbourhood is a master-planned, complete community that carries a rich military history dating back to the mid-1930’s, formerly the site of the Canadian Forces Base Calgary known as Currie Barracks. The neighbourhood has been under redevelopment since 2008, is enriched by military commemoration that reflects its history, and it is designed to support sustainability with elements such as bike lanes, beautiful stormwater management, parks and green spaces, local businesses, and an overall transit-friendly design. Existing amenities nearby include The Military Museums, schools, recreation centres, regional parks and shopping centres. When complete, the site will have more than 5,000 residential units.
Affordability: The minimum requirement for affordability is established by the FLI program, at least 30% of the units must be made available at rents not more than 80% of the Median Market Rental Rent, as established by CMHC within the City of Calgary.
Accessibility: 20% of all units must meet or exceed accessibility standards as prescribed in the Property Application Guide, while the entire project – including common areas and dwelling units, must have universal accessibility incorporated into the design.
Energy efficiency: The project is required to achieve improved energy performance, which will be demonstrated by modelling a decrease in energy consumption and/or greenhouse gas emissions as outlined in the in the Property Application Guide.
To learn more about Currie and how to submit an application, please visit the CMHC website.
- Village at Griesbach, Edmonton AB
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Property Application
Intersection of Sir Arthur Currie Way and Griesbach Road
The site is located within the Village at Griesbach community, a master-planned complete community that offers schools, parks and commercial uses within convenient walking distances. The property is 1.06-hectare (2.6-acre) and is planned to provide about 45 units of housing, with a minimum of 50% of those units dedicated to affordable units. With servicing completed in summer 2024, the site is ready for development.
The award-winning Village at Griesbach community has been under redevelopment since 2003. It is located on the former Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Griesbach in Edmonton, and celebrates a rich military past in its amenities, parks and stormwater features and neighbourhood design. The Village at Griesbach is family friendly and offers a traditional community character while integrating modern sustainability elements. The Village at Griesbach stage 8 received LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Neighbourhood Design) Gold Certification – the first project in Edmonton to receive this prestigious international designation. The future will bring even more new commercial spaces, additional lands for housing and affordable housing and parks. When complete, the site will have more than 7,000 residential units.
Affordability: The minimum requirement for affordability is established for the property, at least 50% of the units must be made available at rents not more than 80% of the Median Market Rental Rent, as established by CMHC, within the City of Edmonton.
Accessibility: 20% of all units must meet or exceed accessibility standards as prescribed in the Property Application Guide, while the entire project – including common areas and dwelling units, must have universal accessibility incorporated into the design.
Energy efficiency: The project is required to achieve improved energy performance, which will be demonstrated by modelling a decrease in energy consumption and/or greenhouse gas emissions as outlined in the Property Application Guide.
To learn more about the Village at Griesbach and how to submit an application, please visit the CMHC website.
- Wateridge Village, Ottawa ON
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Property Application
370 Codd’s Road/800 Winisik Street, Ottawa ON
The site is located within Canada Lands’ Wateridge Village development at 370 Codd’s Road/800 Winisik Street will provide 495 units of housing with a minimum of 30% dedicated to affordable units. A mix of low-rise to mid-rise density is planned for the residential development. The parcel is 1.6-hectares (3.9-acres).
The Wateridge Village development is located five kilometres from Ottawa’s downtown core and is formerly home to the Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe. Under development since 2016, the neighbourhood currently has approximately 1,000 residents. Approximately 5,300 residential units are planned to be enabled upon completion. Wateridge Village is a master planned, complete community that provides convenient access to schools, public transit, employment spaces, natural areas, municipal parks, and shopping opportunities.
Affordability: The minimum requirement for affordability is established by the FLI program, at least 30% of the units must be made available at rents not more than 80% of the Median Market Rental Rent, as established by CMHC within the City of Ottawa.
Accessibility: 20% of all units must meet or exceed accessibility standards as prescribed in the Property Application Guide, while the entire project – including common areas and dwelling units, must have universal accessibility incorporated into the design.
Energy efficiency: The project is required to achieve improved energy performance, which will be demonstrated by modelling a decrease in energy consumption and/or greenhouse gas emissions as outlined in the Property Application Guide.
To learn more about Wateridge Village and how to submit an application, please visit the CMHC website.
In order for Canadians to obtain information about current and future housing opportunities available on other federal properties, the government has launched a new Public Land Bank mapping tool that helps the public and builders easily identify available land to expedite new housing.
The above properties and several other parcels of land within Canada Lands Company’s portfolio have been added to the land bank.
