Mapleton Township to grant Conestoga Crest $1 million

MAPLETON – Conestoga Crest Senior Citizen Suites will likely receive $1 million in municipal funding. 

The money, from the affordable housing incentive program, would help fund the construction of 40 new geared-to-seniors units in Drayton.

The funding is part of a Wellington County initiative that includes up to $1 million for each lower-tier municipality to address affordability and housing supply challenges.

The township’s plan will need to be approved by the county.

Mapleton Township staff recommended $700,000 of the funding go to Conestoga Crest, with the remaining $300,000 held for other housing projects at a rate of $10,000 per bedroom. 

But after a lengthy discussion, council decided to instead funnel the full $1 million to Conestoga Crest. 

The not-for-profit currently has one single-storey building with 32 independent living apartments – 31 with tenants and one that is occupied by the March of Dimes, Conestoga Crest chair Keith McIntosh told Mapleton council on Feb. 24.

Of those, 10 are for low-income tenants through the county’s rent-geared-to-income program and six are supportive housing with home care offered through the March of Dimes. 

And there are about 40 people on a waitlist for the units, a number McIntosh said “would be at least double that if we had capacity,” as people often call and ask about the waitlist but opt not to be added because it is too long.

The new apartment building would be two storeys and located on the same 5.7-acre lot as the organization’s existing apartment building in northeast Drayton. 

McIntosh said the total cost of the project is expected to approach $10 million. 

The rental rates for the existing units are $1,230 for a one-bedroom and $1,500 for a two-bedroom, including heat and hydro. 

“We would endeavour to keep affordability a priority for any future expansion,” Conestoga Crest officials stated in a letter to council. 

The organization is set to start construction within the next 12 months. 

Councillor Michael Martin suggested the full amount go to Conestoga Crest instead of directing $300,000 to other projects. 

“The ability for seniors to age in the community is priceless,” Martin said.

Plus, the waitlist demonstrates a clear need for the units, there’s already a plan underway to get things built, and “there are also countless economic side benefits that go along with it.” 

Councillor Marlene Ottens said while she’d like to see some of the $1 million go towards affordable housing for families, “the advantage of this is that the more seniors that can move out of their existing homes into the Crest, that would free up more houses for families wanting to purchase, so it kind of builds a domino effect.”

But she was hopeful the $300,000 going to community projects would help increase the number of affordable rentals available for families. 

Councillor Amanda Reid said she agrees “allowing seniors to age in our community is huge,” but she added it would be nice to see some of the money support families. 

Mapleton CAO Manny Baron said the idea of directing $300,000 elsewhere in the community was to support projects such as residents renovating homes to increase the number of units or to upgrade old, unlivable units. 

“The lens was fairness, in helping the entire community across Mapleton,” Baron said.

But, he added, “We serve at the pleasure of council and whatever you decide, we’re extremely comfortable with ... staff really don’t have any qualms” with directing the full amount to Conestoga Crest.

Treasurer Patrick Kelly said the two-stream option was recommended because it mirrors successful  affordable housing incentive applications from other municipalities.

He asked if it’s expected that the county would approve an application to direct the full amount to Conestoga Crescent. 

Mayor Gregg Davidson is confident the application will be approved. 

Martin said, “I think the affordable housing rentals and home ownership is a much larger conversation.

“Right now we have an amount of money that we need to tailor towards something, and my personal opinion is that it would have maximum impact going in to one project.”

Martin added, “I have my own opinions about letting the market dictate what rates are – that’s what Mapleton has traditionally done.” 

He said he doesn’t think a $10,000-per-bedroom incentive would be enough to impact rental rates, noting, “there’s a reason there’s not a dearth of rental units out there, and it’s because being an owner of a rental unit is a dog’s breakfast.” 

He said he is speaking from personal experience. 

The market will dictate itself and people who want to become landlords will do so because there’s a profitable business case – and the municipal funding is unlikely to have an impact there, Martin said. 

Davidson said, “I’m going to side with councillor Martin on this one, as he doesn’t think the $10,000-per-bedroom building incentive will be enough incentive to make a significant difference to the final price of homes.” 

Councillor Lori Woodham was not present at the meeting, and council discussed deferring the decision until she returned, to avoid a split vote. 

However, Davidson said, “I don’t want to see the Crest walk away today without assurances that they are going to get (at least) $500,000, because that is going to get them on the right path to get this thing started, and it’s very important for us to see that happen in this community.” 

Council discussed a few options, but eventually voted unanimously in favour of giving the full amount to Conestoga Crest. 

Davidson said, “We will take that to the county and see if they approve it.” 

Ottens said, to council and staff’s amusement, “next time a big pot of money falls on our lap, I’d like to see it go to non-seniors – and I say that as a senior.”