A long, red ribbon was cut with over-sized scissors outside Bracebridge’s new affordable housing unit. “This is indeed a day to be proud of,” said Jeff Lehman chairperson of the District of Muskoka. Lehman was joined by other dignitaries and local leaders this morning at 100 Pine Street where 44 new affordable housing units have been built. The District of Muskoka says this project will help lead the move to create more much needed affordable housing in the area. “This is the largest and first major social housing building for the district in decades. We have plans to do larger projects as we move forward. This is a model and we are already using this building to look at other sites around Muskoka,” says Lehman. With a wait list in the hundreds for this one building, the demand for affordable housing is only increasing by the years. The four-story build has been funded by the federal, provincial, district and town governments. Location is key for the many seniors that will live here. The mayor of Bracebridge says his community is working on an even bigger affordable housing project. “This is going to be a starting board for us as we move into our arena lands in Bracebridge on James street. I know the district is going to be a partner in that as well. We’ll see a similar build but much more intense in terms of density we’re looking at more than 100 units there,” said Bracebridge Mayor Rick Maloney. The need for affordable housing is being felt across the country. Large and smaller communities are trying to catch up. Parry Sound/Muskoka MPP Greydon Smith says affordable housing will not be rectified over tonight. “There is no one project that is going to solve everything. There is no one thing that is going to solve housing challenges, but what we do is attack it one project at a time,” said Graydon Smith. The 44 new affordable housing units at 100 Pine street range in cost anywhere from $400-dollars to $1,100 a month. The building is now at 98% full.
