A funding announcement Thursday (Oct. 15) in St. Thomas is an important step toward making housing projects more viable and building more homes.The city is receiving up to $19.6 million in exchange for reducing development charges for three years.
The provincial and federal funding is through the Development Charge Reduction Program.
MP Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, stressed the announcement “Is creating the conditions to ensure communities like St. Thomas can continue to grow and thrive.”
He continued, “There’s no doubt we’re in an affordability crisis in many ways, but especially when you talk about housing. That is the crisis of the day. And we’re trying to change that.
“And what you need to do to change that is work with all levels of government, federally, provincially, and municipally, and I think that is exactly what is happening here today.
“It takes too long, and it costs too much to build homes in this province, and we are changing that in the provincial government. How are we doing it? We’re creating the environment for more homes to be built.
“You can’t build the homes we need to build without critical infrastructure, especially housing-enabling infrastructure. And that is why we always say governments don’t build homes; home builders do, and we need to create those conditions, and infrastructure is key to that success.”
The reduction in development charges is estimated to cut the cost of building a new home in the city by nearly $6,000.Combined with savings from expanded HST relief on eligible new homes, these initiatives could save families in St. Thomas as much as $136,000.
London West MP and Deputy House Leader Arielle Kayabaga noted building more homes “Requires partnerships and investments.”
She continued, “This funding will help St. Thomas build the infrastructure needed to unlock more housing, and to support growth of communities across the city. This will also include supporting the design and construction of new wastewater treatment facilities.
“You see the big check behind us, the dollar amounts on it. That’s an amount that will not come out of developers’ pockets. That’s also an amount that will not come out of new home buyers, young families buying some of these beautiful homes.”
“And these kinds of investments make it possible to build complete and connected communities and will make a real difference for families looking for a place to call home.”
A portion of the funding will be used to help build the $440 million Dalewood Water Reclamation Facility.
St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston added, “This is exciting news for the City of St. Thomas and another great step forward as our community continues to grow.
“Also cooperating with our home builders – the ones that actually get the work done and build these beautiful homes with us and the Ontario Home Builders Group that represents them.
“Without their help advocating for reducing the cost of housing, we wouldn’t have been able to deliver it either. You see the big check behind us, the dollar amounts on it. That’s an amount that will not come out of developers’ pockets. That’s also an amount that will not come out of new home buyers, young families buying some of these beautiful homes.
“Because the province and the federal government have put together a plan where they’ll help us with what we would spend the money on from a development charge point of view. We no longer have to reach into the pockets of builders and our homeowners to do that.
“We can continue to grow as a community, as we’ve been doing in a great way, and attract new homeowners to St. Thomas at an affordable rate because of what’s happening here today. It is second to none what a community can do when all people get to talk to each other and actually move things forward and get big things done.”
Angela DeVries, CEO of the St. Thomas & Elgin Home Builders’ Association, pointed out in a media release, “Our association has worked hard to advocate for solutions that address the real costs of bringing housing to market, and we’re grateful to see that advocacy met with action.”
Russell Higgins, President of MacPherson Builders, where the announcement was held at their property on Hoylake Road in Shaw Valley, noted, “As builders and developers, we want to bring forward new housing, but the costs and fees associated with development can make it increasingly difficult to move projects ahead.”
Funding through the Development Charge Reduction Program will support housing-enabling infrastructure projects such as water/wastewater systems, roads, bridges, transit, fire stations and police detachments, as well as community features such as libraries and recreation centres.
A REALISTIC, RESPONSIBLE AND PHASED PLAN FOR THE RAILWAY MUSEUM
More insight into the track ahead for the temporarily shuttered Elgin County Railway can be found in Monday’s city council agenda package. Included is a 28-page submission from Wil Zufelt, the museum’s CEO.
The museum is requesting $1 million in municipal capital funding to preserve and revitalize the historic Michigan Central Railroad locomotive shops, the museum’s home.
As Zufelt advises in his opening letter to Mayor Joe Preston and members of council, “The building is currently closed while we work toward addressing its structural deficiencies and securing its future. We are proposing an $8.5 million capital project that would restore and revitalize approximately 18,000 square feet of the existing 52,000-square-foot building.”
Zufelt continues, “Our plan is realistic, responsible and phased. We intend to approach the restoration in much the same way our community successfully approached the preservation and revitalization of the historic CASO station: one achievable phase at a time, supported by partnerships and funding from multiple sources.”
He points out that funds could be repaid over a period of time.
“We recognize the financial pressures facing the municipality and are prepared to be flexible. We would be open to deferring the first municipal contribution until 2028, with the city’s commitment provided through equal payments over five or even ten years.
“Before requesting financial support from any level of government, the Elgin County Railway Museum had already identified or secured approximately 73 per cent of the required project funding through our own resources, assets, partnerships and fundraising strategy. This demonstrates both our commitment to the project and our determination to build a sustainable funding plan that does not rely solely on government support. Our major public fundraising campaign is scheduled to begin in spring 2027.
“Having the support of St. Thomas city council, whether through the current council in 2026 or the newly elected council in early 2027, would provide significant momentum and credibility as we approach individuals, businesses, foundations and other funding partners. Most importantly, this is not simply a future concept. We have a shovel-ready project, with construction planned to begin in spring 2027.“Municipal support would help us leverage the funding already identified, strengthen our broader fundraising efforts and move forward with confidence toward preserving this important piece of St. Thomas railway heritage. We are also developing this project around a sustainable operating model. Our objective is for the revitalized facility to operate with a balanced operating budget so that we are not returning to the municipality year after year seeking funding for ongoing operations.”
In February of this year, the city issued a community update on closure of the facility, following a meeting with members of the museum board.
The city stressed that it is not the owner of the building and, “Our role is limited to enforcing safety standards and providing regulatory guidance.
“While the city cannot provide direct financial support for repairs to a privately owned facility, we remain committed to offering technical guidance, regulatory assistance and connections to potential resources, where appropriate.
“It has become a gathering place, a community hub and a place where families, children, seniors, volunteers, service clubs, businesses and visitors come together to celebrate the history and future of St. Thomas.”
“Throughout this process, the city has worked cooperatively with the museum and will continue to do so.”
Zufelt makes it clear that the mandate of the Elgin County Railway Museum is to protect and preserve our railway heritage and artifacts.
“There is no more important artifact for us to begin with than the building itself.
“St. Thomas has already lost many of the buildings that once told the story of our railway past. With each one that disappears, another physical connection to our history disappears with it. There are only so many opportunities left.
“The Michigan Central Railroad locomotive shops represent one of those opportunities. As council and city staff are aware, the Railway Lands property also represents an exciting new growth opportunity for the City of St. Thomas. Strategically located in the heart of our city, these lands have tremendous potential to become a vibrant new destination that connects our heritage with the continued growth and transformation of St. Thomas.
“We believe the Railway Lands can become a new central gathering place and community hub for our city – a place that brings together residents, visitors, businesses, tourism, culture, recreation and our railway heritage. But this opportunity is about more than developing a space. It is more than creating another gathering place.
“Every great community needs what is sometimes called a “third place.” We have our homes. We have our workplaces. But we also need places where we come together as a community to gather, learn, celebrate, volunteer, play and belong. We believe the revitalized Michigan Central Railroad locomotive shops and the surrounding Railway Lands can become that place for St. Thomas.”
The long-term plan is to restore and modernize the historic railway property to create a safe, accessible, energy-efficient and financially sustainable year-round destination incorporating:
• Railway museum and heritage interpretation
• Flexible community and event spaces
• Educational and interactive programming
• Restoration and collections facilities
• Transform the Museum’s brownfield site in the heart of St. Thomas, Ontario into a remediated, vibrant cultural and community hub that revitalizes underused land, strengthens the downtown core, and creates lasting economic and community benefits.
The reimagined museum would re-open some time in 2029, with an eventual attendance goal of 85,000 annual visits to the year-round destination. Last year there were 57,000-plus visitors.
The museum would have three full-time and eight part-time employees. Year-round events, rentals, admissions and programming are intended to support approximately 80 per cent of the museum’s operating budget.
Zufelt concludes, “The Elgin County Railway Museum and the surrounding Railway Lands have become more than a heritage destination. They are increasingly an economic and tourism driver for St. Thomas, bringing thousands of people into the heart of our city and supporting the restaurants, retailers and small businesses that help make our community thrive.
“That growth has demonstrated something very important: this is more than a railway museum. It has become a gathering place, a community hub and a place where families, children, seniors, volunteers, service clubs, businesses and visitors come together to celebrate the history and future of St. Thomas.”
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PACK THE CITY HALL GALLERY FOR MONDAY’S MEETING
Having launched their fundraising awareness campaign last month, the Elgin County Railway Museum is now approaching the City of St. Thomas with a $1 million funding request (see item above).
We spoke with Wil Zufelt, the museum’s CEO about the request which will come before city council at Monday’s (Oct. 19) meeting.
Zufelt explained, “So city council asked for us to put our request into them. So we put it in and we’re going to hear for their first time in the chamber from our city councilors and our mayor on their perspective of the Elgin County Railway Museum.”
Zufelt would like to see the public gallery at city hall jammed with supporters to impress on the importance of the museum to life in St. Thomas.
“So at 4.30 on Monday, I’m going to be on Mondamin Street at the side of city hall giving away free T-shirts. And we’re hoping people put them on and pack the upstairs gallery. By being present to show why our history matters here in town and why that building matters and why it matters to protect our railway history. Because once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
Zufelt continued, “So it’s really interesting because I’ve heard so many stories since I’ve been with the organization for the last four years. My uncle worked here, my grandfather worked here, my dad worked here and so on. You know, an engine or a train came across the properties every 40 minutes.
“It’s always going to be the Elgin County Railway Museum in that building because we have to showcase our railway history. But for the last four years, that building has housed many different events. The biggest announcement in automotive history is PowerCo coming here to St. Thomas. We’ve had weddings and birthday parties and rail events. It is becoming the heart of St. Thomas, the centre of town.
“We just can’t say we’re the Railway Capital of Canada. We’ve got to show that we are. The railway made St. Thomas. St. Thomas did not make the railway. And our railway history matters. It’s who we are.”
MAYORAL CANDIDATE PROFILE: DENNIS CREVITS, MUNICIPALITY OF CENTRAL ELGIN
Earlier this summer, he filed his nomination papers to again contest for the Deputy Mayor post. Days prior to the nomination period closing, Crevits changed course and entered the mayoral race against Morgaine Griffin.
So, what prompted that decision?
“I just assumed that the mayor (Andrew Sloan) was going to run again. And there was already one candidate that had put in for mayor. So that would have put three of us running for mayor. And rather than splitting the vote, I thought I’d have a better chance of both getting in and helping the community by being on council. 
So that’s why I ran for deputy mayor.
So that’s why I ran for deputy mayor.“And then when I found out that the current mayor was not running again, that’s when I put my hat in for mayor.”
Central Elgin has garnered attention in the past several years with the loss of several hundred acres of industrial land to St. Thomas for the development of Yarmouth Yards industrial park.
And more recently, with the announcement that the former St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital lands will be transformed into a vibrant mixed-use community.
Crevits says the latter prompted him to run again.
“When we found out that the hospital lands were going to be in Central Elgin and it’s going to remain in Central Elgin, that’s very important. They’ve done a study already for the hospital lands, and it’s good to see the planning there. And I’d like to make sure the planning supports smart growth.
“There’s a plan already out there, and I believe there’s going to be an announcement you’ll see after the election. They didn’t want to make this an election issue, the hospital lands. So the province is going to announce something. I’ve been talking to MPP Rob Flack about this, as well as Mayor Andrew Sloan, and things are moving forward. It is going to happen.
“This is going to be our chance for some growth to help offset our taxes. It has to be built as a community with some seniors housing, some affordable housing. Make it a walkable community. That’s the goal there.”
But what are some of the other things that Crevits sees as priorities going into the new term?
“There’s always discussion about water and water rates; that’s something that recurs throughout the municipality. I’d like to see an amalgamation of our two water boards. We have the Lake Erie water board, the one located in Port Stanley, and they feed the City of London.
“And there’s also the one in Grand Bend, the Huron board that feeds the City of London. Currently on the books, the Erie station is about .93 cents a cubic meter as the cost at which they sell their water. On the other end, the Huron board is at .53 cents, almost half price. So London, they get to take advantage of a blended water rate.
“The development on the berm, that’s the 70 per cent green space. That’s something we have to keep, and that’s something I’ll be pushing for.”
“So if the province could step in, they didn’t want to blend two water boards at one time, but I think that some precedent has been set with the conservation authorities. Because if you look at it, we have the Grand, Catfish Creek, Kettle Creek, and Long Point conservation authorities that are going to become one conservation authority. So they’ve done that there.
“So why can’t they do it with water boards? That’s something that I’d like to explore and see if we can have a blended water board with the two. That’s something in the future I’d like to pursue with the water rates.”
The municipality lost hundreds of acres of industrial land to St. Thomas to create the Yarmouth Yards industrial park; however, there is land bordering Hwy. 3 that is available for future development. We asked Crevits about attracting industry to Central Elgin.
“I’d even like to pursue land out by the airport, a shared industrial site or some sort of development near the airport that we could partner on. The City of St. Thomas owns that land, but it’s located in Central Elgin. And I’d like to see some partnering or some sharing of services there to build an industrial park there as well.
“And once PowerCo does come on stream, then it will be access for parts or delivery, a closer delivery than having to rely on London Airport all the time.”
There was discussion at a recent all-candidates meeting related to growth in Port Stanley, something Crevits referred to as a line in the sand.
“There are only a couple more developments that are available there for residential development. One is just as you’re coming into Port Stanley on East Road, and the other is over by the golf course. Those are the two growth areas, and the third one, which is a big one, is the harbour front.
“A lot of people have their eyebrows raised about the hospital land developments. They’re asking, is there land being kept for any other reasons? There are 50 to 60 acres being kept by the province in that development, and speculation is that it could be a hospital someday.”
“With the harbour front development, there’s a plan in place. And, you know, we should stick to that existing plan, not try to reinvent the wheel and get another plan in place.
“The development on the berm, that’s the 70 per cent green space. That’s something we have to keep, and that’s something I’ll be pushing for. But as far as the development, there is the possibility of developing Main Street. But a lot of this, I think, is contingent on what’s happening with the battery plant in St. Thomas. Without the industry, we can’t have the type of growth that’s anticipated for the area.
“In the Union area, there is growth; there’s talk of a pumping station there. There are two developers from the St. Thomas area. One has about a 400-acre parcel, the other one a 100-acre parcel. And that’s all in the works. But again, that’s gone quiet in the interim.
“We have to watch our growth and watch our dollars, the way we spend our dollars.”
We asked Crevits about the feedback he is receiving as he campaigns.
“I seem to be getting really good feedback from the public. The doors that I’ve knocked on, there seems to be a lot of engagement from the people I’ve been talking to, which is a good sign. I’m hoping we can get a better turnout than we have had historically around the area. It’s roughly 30 per cent. It’d be nice to get that even to 35 per cent.
“A lot of people have their eyebrows raised about the hospital land developments. They’re asking, is there land being kept for any other reasons? There are 50 to 60 acres being kept by the province in that development, and speculation is that it could be a hospital someday.
“I get a lot of traffic issues, especially when I was in the Belmont area with the new public school opening up in January. Half of the town of Belmont is on the other side of Highway 74, Belmont Road, and for their children to get there, they’re not getting bused. A majority of those people are walking to the school, so they have to cross that busy highway. So traffic mitigation along that section of Belmont Road, Highway 74, is really important. It’s going to be critical.”
“And so, under the strong mayor powers, it’s the mayor’s duty to introduce a budget. And what I will try to do, which I’m going to attempt to do for my first couple of years, is to have a zero per cent increase plus the cost of living, at the most.”
Crevits is running under the banner, ‘Experience Matters.’
“Not only in politics, over the last 26 years I’ve sat on council 11 years. But in my business experience, I’ve run my own business for the last 38 years.
“I started by opening up a gas station, the Shell gas station. I built that back in 1988 on the way into Port Stanley. And being self-sufficient in my business and construction, I have the experience, and I know how to run the business.
“A municipality has to be run as a corporation, as a business. And that’s something that I’ve been pushing as well.
“So there are the needs and the wants. We have to satisfy our needs before we get into the wants, and that’s something important. People have mentioned more pickleball courts or a cricket pitch or other things.
“Those are the things that we can do. And yes, I’d love to do everything, but unfortunately, we have to draw the line sometimes. So we have to take our needs first, our snow plowing, our roads, our infrastructure. That’s the important thing.
“And so, under the strong mayor powers, it’s the mayor’s duty to introduce a budget. And what I will try to do, which I’m going to attempt to do for my first couple of years, is to have a zero per cent increase plus the cost of living, at the most.
“That’s the budget that I’d like to propose for the first couple of years, just to keep things affordable where they are now.”
For more information, you can visit his website at https://www.denniscrevits.ca/
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