Ontario plans to move ahead with its plan to build more modular homes including on government surplus lands.
That was the message from Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP and Associate Minister of Housing in the province’s effort to cut red tape when it comes to increasing the housing supply.
We talked with Flack shortly after the media release went out to delve deeper into the concept of modular homes and their role in the future.
He advised a housing forum was held in Toronto last November where various housing stakeholders got together for a day to identify deliverables needed to speed up homebuilding in the province.
Among those attending was St. Thomas homebuilder Doug Tarry.
“And one of the pieces is modular or factory-built homes and so we’ve been working on getting this market sounding out.
“There are all types of modular homebuilders in Ontario. Big scale ones down to smaller ones.”
Flack advised those would include the use of shipping containers to stack together to create various-sized living spaces.
“What we really need to see is to marry up what capacity we have in the modular home sector versus what can be built and where.
“And it comes back to repurposing some of the land we have in Ontario, like the St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital land and there are situations like that throughout the province that need to have homes built on it.
“So, what can we do, where can we build them and if nothing is perfectly marrying up, how do we build up scale?
“Whether it’s labour, whether it’s investment and what do we need to do with these lands to get them shovel-ready?”
Flack continued, “Part of the problem in the housing continuum in Ontario today is what I’m going to call the missing middle.
“There are those folks who do not qualify for affordable housing because they make too much money.
“And they don’t qualify for a mortgage because they don’t have enough downpayment or they can’t cash flow a mortgage.
“We’re calling that the missing middle.
“So modular is one part – not all of it – where people can get into a home they can afford and build equity.
“And, in time, they can stay there or move to market-based housing and making that house, ultimately, available for someone who wants to start to build equity and buy an attainable house.
“One of the big things that hurts the modular home business is transportation costs.”
“So, modular fits the bill. They’re not necessarily less expensive to build – people have that perception – but a good modular home will not be a lot different than a traditionally built home, the difference is speed.
“Time is money and we can get them built faster.
“So I take a look at the land we have in St. Thomas (at the former psych hospital) – and nothing has been decided yet – but do I see the entire property with attainable or modular homes? No.
“But, do we allocate a piece of it? I hope so.
“And I’ll point out another piece of land that doesn’t get talked about enough, is land that needs to be remediated.
“Look at the land behind the CASO station, that land should have housing on it.
“One size doesn’t fit all, what we need to do is come up with some standards. They may not have hardwood and they may not have granite, but they are really good starter homes.”
“It’s brownfield and we need to remediate brownfields and make them housing-ready.
“And I’m convinced, in time, we’ll get it done.”
Flack reiterated that he prefers the term factory-built homes instead of modular homes.
“And, there are some beautiful homes built in a factory.
“One of the big things that hurts the modular home business is transportation costs.”
In other words, shipping all the pre-built pieces to the building site for assembly.
“There are all kinds of unique modular builders who can do a lot of great things.
“One size doesn’t fit all, what we need to do is come up with some standards. They may not have hardwood and they may not have granite, but they are really good starter homes.”
“We’re bringing good-paying jobs with benefits and pensions to Ontario, and we’ve got to make sure we can house those people.”
Locally, you have to look no further than the post-war homes built near the hospital on Dunkirk Drive and Dieppe Drive.
And let’s not forget Project Tiny Hope, the partnership with the YWCA, Doug Tarry Homes and Sanctuary Homes, with work expected to begin very shortly.
“It’s a great example of re-purposing a brownfield site and you build affordable housing in unique ways to support those who need it most.
“We’re bringing good-paying jobs with benefits and pensions to Ontario, and we’ve got to make sure we can house those people.”
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ON SCHEDULE WITH INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION
Monday’s (May 6) council agenda contains the third update on the progress of work and associated infrastructure required for the Yarmouth Yards, the city’s new industrial park to house the PowerCo EV battery plant (see chart).
Except for two areas – planning and zoning considerations and the South Edgeware booster station – all work is proceeding on schedule.
Actual construction of the plant is expected to begin this quarter and continue through 2026, while work on a training centre building will begin this summer.
Several of the parking and staging areas are completed.
The new hydro transmission line from London and the substation for the industrial park is not expected to be finished until the end of 2026, with the final route of the line to be announced later this year.
The rail spur from the CN line and the internal rail yard will be finished by the fall of 2025.
The city’s new wastewater treatment plant is anticipated to be ready in the third quarter of 2028 and the Ministry of Transportation undertaking to twin Hwy. 3 and the Talbotville bypass will not be completed until the second quarter of 2029.
HEALTH UNIT NIXES MERGER POSSIBILITY
A voluntary merger involving Southwestern Public Health and health units in Brant County and Haldimand-Norfolk will be a non-starter.
The board of health at Southwestern Public Health unanimously turned thumbs down on the idea after completing a feasibility assessment, advised board chair Bernia Martin.
“Primarily, the board decided that right now we want to maintain focus on what we are doing.
“On delivering those measurable impacts to our population, delivering the high-quality programs and services that we are known for and having that impact on positive health outcomes for Oxford, Elgin and St. Thomas.”
The Ministry of Health last year announced one-time funding and support to health units that voluntarily merge by the end of this year.
However as we have seen with school board mergers, bigger does not always prove better.
And that is one of several reasons the Southwestern Public Health board voted against voluntarily merging with the other health units.
“So, the school board example is a great analogy that bigger isn’t always better.
“And I would say there were a variety of reasons and rationale why the board made the decision that we made.
“We have worked very hard to build up a robust level of service and programs for our community. And, we want to maintain focus on that.”
A merger is a significant undertaking and Southwestern Public Health was the result of an amalgamation in 2018.
And the resultant health unit is still finding its way which included navigating a pandemic.
Martin says that was a key consideration in voting against a voluntary merger.
“Mergers are unsettling. We value our staff and we value the work they have done to get us through a pandemic and still maintain those levels of excellence.
“We do want our staff to know that they are a huge part of this decision-making process and they have our full confidence, moving forward.”
Martin stressed, “We remain committed to the vision of a stronger public health sector that prioritizes innovation, collaboration and a deeper connection to public health priorities that shape future communities.”
MAKING THE TOUGH CALLS WITH COMMUNITY GRANTS
At Monday’s meeting, city council will again deal with community grant requests, a process that generally initiates debate.
In his report to council, Director of Finance Dan Sheridan is recommending two grants be approved and a similar number be rejected.
If approved by council, the Rainbow Optimist Club of Southwestern Ontario would receive $3,500 to cover the costs of Pride events at Pinafore Park in August.
Sheridan notes, “Community events are a priority in the grants policy, it’s recommended that council approve this request.”
The Elgin Amateur Radio Society is seeking $350 to pay the premium for insurance coverage for the emergency communications exercise to be held at Pinafore Park in June 2024.
Sheridan recommends approval of this request.
He does not recommend approval of a request for $11,550 from the St. Thomas Jumbo Jets Swim Team to pay for lane rental fees this year at the YMCA pool.
Sheridan notes, “This request is well over the limit for community grants but is also being used to cover operating costs which are ineligible under community grants.”
A $2,800 request from Somerset Recovery to help cover the costs related to the Art of the Recovery program at the St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre is also not recommended for approval because the money would cover operating costs.
A tough call on the last item as Somerset Recovery is a Canadian nonprofit organization supporting mental health, recovery and the arts.
The program director is Sarah Patriquin from Oneida Nation of the Thames and the group’s advisory director is Coun. Tara McCaulley.
The founder of Somerset Recovery is Canadian singer/songwriter Michelle Titian.
FOR THE CALENDAR
A free AccessAbility open house will be held Saturday, June 1 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Joe Thornton Community Centre.
The event will feature door prizes, exhibits, vendors and vendor showcases and is part of activities planned for National AccessAbility Week, May 26 to June 1.
Questions and comments may be emailed to City Scope
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And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.
