Summerside, federal government pledge $5.8 million to increase P.E.I. housing density, affordability
![Summerside Summerside, P.E.I., is pictured in this undated file photo.](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2023/9/1/summerside-1-6545152-1704830687906.jpg)
The City of Summerside and the Government of Canada plan to fast track development for 132 housing units over the next three years.
The agreement aims to increase housing density in Summerside, P.E.I., by allowing multi-unit residential lot zoning changes, according to a Tuesday news release from the City of Summerside.
This will make housing more affordable and more attainable to support growth, said Dan Kutcher, Summerside mayor, in the news release.
“The (funding) complements our housing strategy to build more varied, diverse, dense and attainable housing across the City,” said Kutcher.
“We are breaking down housing barriers through innovation and hard work to achieve our goal of creating more attainable and affordable housing for all our residents. Today's announcement will help us get there faster.”
The agreement between the federal and municipal government falls under the federal Housing Accelerator fund, which will provide $5.8 million to build necessary housing faster, the release says.
The agreement is called the Summerside Action Plan. According to the release, it includes 14 initiatives, which aim to prioritize:
-
zoning changes to increase housing density
-
allowing four units per residential lot as-of-right
-
incentives for multi-unit development
-
reducing restrictions on accessory dwelling units, which are second homes on lots already occupied by a residence
-
incentives for missing middle housing, which are buildings like multiplexes, townhouses, cottage courts, and courtyard buildings
-
establishing a new east-west growth node
The houses are “missing” because they have not been commonly built since the mid-1940s and “middle” because they sit between high rises and single-family homes in form and scale, according to the Missing Middle Housing website.
The Housing Accelerator Fund is part of a larger federal initiative called the National Housing Strategy. The government updates the strategy’s progress quarterly at this website.
The government of Canada has “committed” over $38.89 billion of the total planned $82 billion, according to the website. The 10-year plan will run until March 2028.
“By building more affordable homes more quickly, our government is unlocking new opportunities for growth in Summerside,” said Bobby Morrissey, member of parliament for Egmont on P.E.I.
For more Prince Edward Island news visit our dedicated provincial page.
Correction
A previous version of this article mistakenly said the government pledged $5.8 billion instead of $5.8 million.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6943621.1719510587!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Watch Live Now: Canadian analysis ahead of the CNN Presidential Debate
U.S. President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump are set to go head-to-head tonight in the first of two planned presidential debates. Here's how to watch the CNN Presidential Debate, Power Play's pre- and post-debate specials, and follow along in our real-time CTVNews.ca live expert analysis and commentary by debate and body-language experts.
'Hanging on for her life': Sask. family desperate to bring home sick niece from Philippines
For half a decade, a Saskatoon family has been trying to bring their orphaned niece to Canada, they say now it’s a matter of life or death.
'No additional flights will be cancelled': WestJet avoids strike as feds order binding arbitration
A potential strike by WestJet airplane mechanics would upend travel plans for 250,000 customers over the Canada Day long weekend, the airline says — and cost it millions of dollars.
BREAKING Nunavut judge sentences Toronto woman to 3 years prison for Inuit identity fraud
A Nunavut judge has sentenced a Toronto woman to three years in prison in a case of Inuit identity fraud.
Canada's top court rejects appeal from Sask. man who murdered wife
The Supreme Court of Canada has rejected an application from a Saskatoon man who murdered his wife.
Where do new Canadians come from? India and Philippines take top spots
Canada has welcomed more than 3.9 million new citizens since 2005, with nearly one third coming from India, the Philippines or China, according to a CTVNews.ca analysis.
Marilyn Monroe's former Los Angeles home declared a historic monument to save it from demolition
Fans of Marilyn Monroe have won a battle to preserve her mark on Los Angeles and are a step closer to seeing a towering statue of the silver screen icon remain in Palm Springs.
Man charged with threatening to kill presidential candidates found dead as jury was deciding verdict
A New Hampshire man charged with threatening the lives of presidential candidates last year has been found dead while a jury was deciding his verdict, according to court filings Thursday.
AI regulation 'a start,' needs to 'have teeth': Hinton, godfather of AI, says
So-called godfather of AI Geoffrey Hinton says he's 'pleased' governments are starting to take artificial intelligence, and the possible regulations of it, seriously.