Kapuskasing town council turned down an affordable housing application by Action Group Inc last night.
The proposal called for four apartment complexes to be built if the town was approved for a Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation program. The nearly $12 million project would have cost the town $85,000 up front with no guarantees of getting approved.
Mayor Dave Plourde says the risks were just too great.
“There were all kinds of different things to look at, the rezoning of the property was one key factor that we felt uncomfortable giving an answer that fast,” he said. “Although it’s a great idea and we are hoping for a phase four.
Kapuskasing was asked to participate in the program on short notice with the deadline to submit tonight at midnight.
Plourde says the entire process that councillors went through allows them to further study affordable housing needs with land availability in the future.
“So I think what it does is it turns and maybe changes the scope of what we have to think about around the table to a different one,” he said. “Where do we place the people that we have to house and I think that is a good discussion to have. That’s something we wouldn’t have anticipated and it is where we are at today.”
He adds that the town is hopeful that another phase of the program will be offered next year so more consideration can be given.
