REGINA — It’s a move aimed at turning vacant lots into affordable housing more quickly.
On Wednesday, Regina’s executive committee considered expanding eligibility to purchase or lease properties through the Affordable Housing Lands Policy (AHLP).
“[Expanding] eligibility to more organizations and individuals will allow for more of the underutilized properties to be returned to active use, providing social and economic benefits to the neighbourhoods,” noted the report from the city.
Established back in October, the AHLP allows conditions under which properties can be sold or leased without a public offering or individual council resolution. This allows the city to sell or lease properties below market value to support strategic goals, including community well-being and neighbourhood revitalization.
As it stands, the current policy only allows housing providers and land trusts to acquire city-owned property for the purposes of enabling development of affordable, supportive, transitional, mixed-income, and market housing and social enterprise.
Under the proposed policy amendment, for-profit builders, start-up housing providers, social enterprises, and Indigenous governments or economic development corporations could become eligible to lease or purchase city-owned properties.
Deborah Bryden, deputy city manager of city planning and community development, said adding for-profit builders would help speed up development.
“We’re taking on a lot of parcels through the land bank, but there isn’t enough capacity among affordable housing providers. We’re looking at the possibility of them developing about 12 lots a year. To speed up redevelopment, we believe this is an appropriate amendment.”
The city currently has 41 parcels in its land bank, with nearly 60 additional properties in the process of being acquired. Under the proposed change, properties in the land bank with an appraised value of $100,000 or less may be sold or leased for $1 to eligible housing providers and recognized community land trusts to develop properties.
Most parcels are found in North Central, with the city also looking to actively acquire land in the Heritage neighbourhood.
While the goal is to speed up development, city administration said housing corporations and non-profits will continue to have first priority when acquiring land from the bank.
As part of the proposed policy change, a new hierarchy would be created, with community land trusts at tier 1, non-profits in tier 2, for-profits in tier 3, and neighbourhood side lots in tier 4.
A side lot can be purchased by property owners whose properties are adjacent to vacant lots, allowing the land to be used for residential, accessory, recreational or agricultural purposes for $500.
Decisions on providing city-owned properties to new owners are also made using a matrix.
City administration said that if a property reaches the third tier, the city will assess the applicant’s intentions and whether they align with the overall mandate for the area.
The amendment was approved unanimously, with final approval of the policy changes required at next Wednesday’s council meeting.
