Large affordable housing project greenlit for Second Line

A $5.1-million, 11-unit affordable housing project has received the go-ahead to be constructed on Second Line near Goulais Avenue, adjacent to a previous project by the Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation (SSMHC).

The new 11-unit affordable apartment building at 664 Second Line West will be built on land already owned by the SSMHC to the immediate west of a strip mall containing Misty's Fifties Bar and Grill. When completed, it will be comprised of three one-bedroom units, four two-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units.

An 8-unit and 9-unit building have already been constructed next door by the SSMHC. A community hub was an integral part of that development when it was built.

"What we are trying to do is bring new affordable housing units into the community," said the corporation's CEO Mike Nadeau, when contacted by SooToday on Friday. 

Ruscio Masonry and Construction won the $5.1 million contract to co-design and build the project. Nadeau said SSMHC staff will meet with the builder next week to begin the design and other details.

The target end date for construction is the end of April 2025.

The project will be funded by a number of different sources through the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board.

Nadeau said the scale of the project has altered some plans the housing corporation had for a fourplex to be built on two adjacent vacant lots at 61 and 65 Wellington St. E. Originally, SSMHC was going to act as the general contractor for that project to cut down on costs.

"We were going to do that, but with this 11-plex coming on line we just don't have the capacity and are putting it out to tender," Nadeau said of the Wellington Street fourplex project. "We're working on that tender actually as we speak."

That project was also delayed while the federal and provincial governments argued over affordable housing projects.

Nadeau said that dispute has since been resolved and the SSMHC has received its funding allocation letter to allow the Wellington Street fourplex project to move ahead.