The feds have billions to give for housing, how will Ottawa make use of it?

Hi everyone,

Geoff here, Robert is away today so I’ll be subbing in today with a bit of a shorter newsletter than normal.

A quick thank you to everyone who has become a member in the last few days, we can’t tell you how much it means. With local news facing such challenging times, it means so much to our small team that you’re willing to support us.

Today we’re unlocking one of our members-only stories, to show you what you’re missing if you aren’t a member already.

And a reminder that there will be no newsletter on Monday because of Canada Day.

Let’s get to it!

CORRECTION: In a fundraising email yesterday we said Bell owned CityNews. This was incorrect, Rogers is the owner of CityNews. The Lookout regrets the error.

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Weather Report

Friday: 26 🌡️ 18 | 🌧⛅

Saturday: 28 🌡️ 19 | ⛈️

Sunday: 28 🌡️ 19 | 🌧⛅

Monday: 29 🌡️ 19 | 🌧⛅

HOUSING

(Members-only) The feds have billions to give for housing, how will Ottawa make use of it?

We published this story in May for our Insider City Hall members. It’s just one of the perks available when you support the Lookout. Today we’re unlocking it for everyone to read.

What happened: As part of its attempts to tackle the ever-expanding housing crisis, the city is prepping an application to get its share of a new $4-billion housing program from the federal government. The Housing Accelerator Fund is run by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and is a big pot of money to get cities to approve more building permits.

In a new memo, city staff have put forward a draft plan for what programs they’ll implement, and how they’ll maximize the amount of federal funding the city qualifies for. One of the major focuses for the city will be using the federal funding to go toward affordable housing.

The program: It’s a reasonably narrow program, one that isn’t handing out money based on population, but rather on the number of new building permits a city expects could be issued between Sept. 1 2023 and Sept. 2026 with the addition of new programs. The program will pay between $20,000 and $54,000 per unit of new approved construction.

• The city has to show projections on how many building permits it expects to approve over those years, and how many more buildings it could approve with the addition of new programs.

How much the city receives will depend on what kind of units are being approved. An affordable unit along a transit corridor will qualify for the full $54,000, while a single-family home would only be eligible for $20,000.

The money doesn’t go to the buyer or the builder, it goes to the city to run programs that make building new housing faster. The city will get four payouts from the CMHC for one-quarter of the approved funding each.

The key programs: The city has seven key plans it thinks can increase the number of new homes approved for construction.

1. Support transit-oriented development

2. Increasing zoning permissions to allow gentle intensification

3. Develop an affordable housing community improvement plan

4. Office-to-residential conversion strategy

5. Accelerate disposal of city-owned lands for housing

6. Affordable housing pipeline strategy

7. Streamlining approval processes for zoning by-law amendments and site plan control

While the total number of permits issued through each of these initiatives goes to the funding total the city will receive, staff said “the most meaningful use of a significant portion of the funds” will be on the affordable housing pipeline strategy.

A new pipeline: The city already provides a certain amount of funding to affordable housing development before the actual development begins, but doesn’t have funding to move them to the permit stage. Right now it has a series of projects that could be approved, there just isn’t the money to get them going.

• “Since these projects are identified as being shovel-ready, staff are confident that permits would be obtained within the three-year time frame, if capital funding were allocated,” staff said in the memo.

How much will Ottawa get: This isn’t clear yet. The city hasn’t published hard numbers on how much it might receive, and how many new units the money might get approved. Those are likely to be released when the final application is submitted to the feds June 14.

Technically, the city can propose as many new programs as it likes, but only its top seven are considered for eligibility purposes. If as things go on, programs in the top seven aren’t living up to their potential, other programs included in the city’s application can be swapped in to measure whether the city is increasing the number of approved permits to continue getting money.

• The federal government can withhold part of the final payment if the city fails to live up to its estimates for new home construction approvals.

What the money goes to: The city isn’t obligated to use all of the money for the specific programs used in its application. City staff said they will use up to 90 percent for the specific initiatives for the program, the other 10 percent will go to “support specific infrastructure projects not funded through development charges,” the memo said.

There are limits on what the money can be spent on. Any program listed in the final application, in or out of the top seven, is eligible for funding. But it can also go to other more general housing initiatives:

• Infrastructure upgrades to roads, stormwater systems, sewage systems and the like;

• Transit that supports housing;

• Existing affordable housing programs.

But staff make one thing clear: “Funding will not be used to subsidize work that would otherwise be paid for by a developer.”

What’s next: Questions and comments from councillors are due today, so that city staff have time to address them in the final version, due June 14.

• You can view the full text of the memo here.

What it means: While we don’t know how much money the city will get, a slice of a $4-billion pie could be quite a large sum. While the proposed programs won’t solve on their own the problems with housing, getting more homes approved is one step for easing the pressure. It’s a long road ahead, but it’s a sign of hope the city sees affordable housing as a key piece of the federal program. It’s the one part of the housing market most ignored, and desperately in need of more support.

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

😶‍🌫️ 103: The number of hours Ottawa has been smokey, the highest ever, with the second closest being 1955. Oh, and the summer is not yet over. [Weather.gc.ca]

🚇 43%: The percent of ridership on light-rail transit compared to pre-pandemic levels. [CTV]

🗳 27: The date in July when there will be a provincial by-election in Kanata-Carleton after MPP Merrilee Fullerton vacated the seat. [CTV]

CITY

What’s happening over Canada Day

What’s happening: Get ready for fun (and potentially rain-filled) weekend for Canada Day in the nation’s capital. We’ve got you covered with all the info you need to know.

Fireworks: You’re permitted to use fireworks today until July 2 on private property. But your small fireworks are no match for the fireworks displays panned across they city. You can see some on Friday after the Titans and Redblacks games, at LeBreton Flats and Clarke Fields Park on Saturday at 10 pm, plus a bunch of other spots around town, which you can see here. [CTV]

Party-time: Head over to LeBreton Flats on Saturday, which will be hosting performances throughout the day featuring Jann Arden and many others, according to CTV.

• Hours vary for major museums, so check the list to see what’s open. Most are free but you need to grab tickets ahead of time.

Stores: Most smaller malls and stores will be closed on Saturday, with some exceptions, including the Rideau Centre. All are open normal hours on Monday.

Transit: You can ride OC Transpo free from Saturday until 2 am Sunday. Routes will have more frequent service in the evening, according to CBC. Lyon Station is recommended for those of you heading to LeBreton Flats. Starting Sunday, kids 12 and under can ride free at any time.

City facilities: Pools, community centres and other city-run facilities will operate on different schedules on Monday, city-run galleries and theatres are closed Monday the public libraries are closed Saturday.

THE AGENDA

🎨 A roadkill crow sculpture at LeBreton Flats is capturing people’s attention. Made from recycled tires, the five-metre-long art installation is meant to illustrate “the collision between human and natural works,” according to the NCC. [CTV]

🚌 This fall OC Transpo will launch an on-demand transit pilot project. People can schedule a ride, with the goal of helping service areas with low ridership. [CBC]

😶‍🌫️ The difference in smog warnings between Gatineau and Ottawa has less to do with air quality and more to do with the fact that Ontario and Quebec have different offices that deal with air quality statements. [CBC]

🏗 The former spot of the Greyhound bus terminal could look a lot different. Brigil Construction has submitted a development proposal to build more than 1,000 rental condors, plus townhouses and commercial units. The buildings would be between 26 to 40 storeys tall. [CTV]

🚓 Police are investigating after a body was found in the Ottawa River on Wednesday, near the Ottawa Locks. Police have released no other details. [CTV]

FOOD

Best of Capital Eats: 10 burgers joints to visit this summer

Sometimes you get home from work, or you’re out on the weekend, and you get that craving for a burger. Luckily our food editor Ralf has gone on what we can only call a burger odyssey, reviewing over nine burger joints around town.

Below are some of the top spots he recommends, and hopefully you’ll discover something new.

A unexpected burger delight at O’Grady’s Outpost

“First, this was an eight ounce house-made patty and not some pre-formed frozen disc from a food service company. The lettuce and tomato were served on the side to preserve freshness. The real kicker was the superior and ultra-soft brioche bun. I didn’t see that coming.”

Read the review

A vegetable burger worth trying at Hunter's Public House

“The burger patty consisted of black beans, chickpeas, quinoa, mushrooms, onions and red peppers and had a little kick to it. It was topped with a fried cake of dill and goat cheese, vegetables and a roast garlic and red beet hummus. This was one of MacInnis’s recipes and it was delicious.”

Read the review

Pearson St. Smashburger in Embrun is what you want in a burger

“I unwrapped my food at one of the picnic tables provided and was struck by the heady aroma of a perfectly seared patty on a soft and sensual potato bun. Whether you’re a burger pro or not, you bite into a sandwich like this and you know you are in fine company. The crisply sealed beef, leaking delicious, unctuous and nutty fat is precisely what you want in a burger. A burger that screams ‘a I am beef and not a vehicle for 101 low-grade toppings.’ ”

Read the review

Here’s a few others worth checking out:

• Smashed burgers smash tastebuds at Flora Hall Brewing

• Burger at Ratatouille hits the ground running

• Beloved Chez Lucien still serving up a great burger

• Review: Umbrella Burger

• King Eddy is doing burgers right

• Review: Burgers & Shakes

• Fat Les's onion rings are worth a visit

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Help your dog be their best self with the experienced trainers at Brian Picknell Dog Training. Ask about our group classes or private lessons today!*

• Here’s a handy guide to the best farmers' markets to visit this summer. [Capital Eats]

• The world’s biggest bouncy castle is coming to Ottawa from July 15-23. Fun!

• Want to have your announcement featured? Contact our partnership team for more info.

OTTAWA GAMES

Congrats to Irenka, Gord and Adam who correctly guessed the answer it was the Champlain Bridge in yesterday’s OttawaGuesser.

Think you’re an Ottawa expert? The first five people to write in with the correct answer will get their names mentioned in the next issue. Play Wordle now.