guelph

GUELPH — The amount of new residential construction is down compared to last year’s numbers, says Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

In a news release, the housing agency said in the first quarter of 2012, construction began on 122 homes. This is compared to the 194 units started in the same quarter last year.

The release said there was a slight increase in the construction of single-detached homes and townhomes, but the decline in semi-detached and apartment construction pulled the overall numbers down.

A major new townhouse development is in the planning stages for east side land that currently holds only the new Guelph Public Library East Side Branch.

KLM Planning Partners, on behalf of Guelph Watson 5-3 Inc., plans to build 200 residential units in the form of townhouses and stack townhouses on 5.84 hectares of land designated as 11 Starwood Drive.

In a general sense, brownfield redevelopment grants are a good idea; simultaneously spurring clean up of contaminated sites while increasing the amount of tax revenue the city will realize from currently non-utilized or underutilized sites.

Guelph’s brownfield redevelopment community improvement plan has been in place since 2004 “to stimulate investment in remediation, reuse and redevelopment of brownfield sites that otherwise would not be redeveloped,” according to a staff report which went before councillors this week.

A city committee has agreed to award a London developer up to $1.75 million in deferred taxes to kick-start a downtown condo tower.

Members of the planning and building, engineering and environment committee voted Monday to approve a staff recommendation in favour of Carvest Properties Limited, a subsidiary of Tricar Group.

The grant will be made under the city’s brownfield redevelopment plan, implemented several years ago to offer financial incentives to developers willing to clean up contaminated sites.

GUELPH — Guelph city council gave a Podium Developments project adjacent to Marianne’s Park on Gordon Street two key approvals Monday night. But some fear the townhouse condominium plan could end up going to battle at the Ontario Municipal Board despite council’s decision.

Many council members say ample opportunities were provided for public input on a project delicately situated close to the banks of the Speed River. But the collective voice of many who felt left out of the consultation process was raised at Monday’s council meeting.

First came the supporters, followed immediately by the detractors of a proposed 18-storey condominium development on Macdonell Street. City council took it all in and seemed to understand Monday night that it won’t be an easy decision.

There was much to discuss, but nothing to decide on the proposed Tricar Group highrise at 148-152 Macdonell, a project that many feel will bring downtown Guelph into the 21st century and spur its vitality for years to come. Others think it will clash with the character of the downtown and fundamentally change it for the worse.

GUELPH — Members of the public will get an opportunity Monday to examine and question a highrise condominium proposal for Guelph’s downtown.

Stantec Consulting Ltd., acting on behalf of The Tricar Group, based in London, is seeking an official plan and zoning bylaw amendment that would allow the development of downtown Guelph’s tallest building — an18-storey condominium tower with possible commercial/official space on the lower floors and featuring a maximum of 130 units.

GUELPH — Early indications suggest Guelph’s 2012 housing market will be very strong for sellers.

Less than two months into the year, demand for homes in the sub-$400,000 price range is up sharply, as historically low interest rates continue to spur home buying locally. Prospective buyers are finding that homes are going relatively quickly, and spring is still a few weeks away.

At least five delegations are hoping city council will do a 180 and vote against a staff recommendation to allow an 11-unit townhouse condominium complex to be built at 180 Gordon St.

Councillors are expected to make their decision at Monday night’s council meeting.