REGINA — Regina’s Housing Incentives Program is helping transform vacant lots into affordable homes while allowing the city to add housing without expanding infrastructure outward.
On Aug. 25, Bill Neher, manager of housing for the City of Regina, announced at city hall that Regina’s Housing Incentives Program is boosting the development of infill affordable housing, with a goal of making better use of space and infrastructure.
The city says this development is aimed at attracting buyers of all kinds.
“When we talk about infill, ideally it’s a full spectrum of people that are living in the neighbourhood — all different types of economic backgrounds and all different stages of life,” says Neher.
Neher is confident that the City of Regina will see positive results from this incentive.
“Overall, I think we’re encouraged. I think that the city is starting to get ready to be more open to the infill development,” says Neher.
One of the projects assisted by the city is an apartment building College Manor, which was built on a vacant lot in the Heritage Neighbourhood. Robert Goldman, president of Goldman Group of Companies, a key developer involved in the incentive program, said College Manor still has a 10 per cent vacancy rate, but the seven affordable units in the building were “absorbed into the market right away,” which indicates the need for more developments like this.
Goldman also acknowledged that developing infill projects is difficult — both financially and socially.
“Infill development is a challenge in the best of economic times, so there’s definitely a demand. Lots of people want to live in core neighbourhoods where they grew up, where they work, where they go to school … which is why city programs are very important in encouraging infill developments,” says Goldman.
Both Neher and Goldman are pleased to see this program unfold, as it aims to move away from expanding the city’s infrastructure outward and focuses more on revitalizing local neighbourhoods, where people can live closer to work or school.
