Federal government backs major housing project in Sudbury involving former mayor

Affordable housing funds in Sudbury The federal government has announced $73 million in funding for 347 homes for those in need, known as Project Manitou. Ian Campbell reports.

The federal government announced $73 million in funding on Friday to support the construction of a 347-unit apartment complex in Greater Sudbury’s downtown core.

According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Project Manitou - which is being built on Van Horne Street - will offer the community's most vulnerable citizens – including seniors, women and children – a place to call home.

The project is being spearheaded by Caneagle CEO Jack Wolofsky under Kaymic Developments and former Sudbury Mayor Jim Gordon.

“I think what's going to make this a great building in the future is the fact that Jack wants to build in certain social services as well – we can have a social worker in the building, we can have a physiotherapist," said Gordon.

Kaymic Developments received approval from city council in 2019 to proceed with the construction of 836 units next to the Cherry Gardens apartment complex, which he built in the late 1970s. The 347-unit complex is the first phase of the project.

The new federal support for the initiative comes in the form of $3 million in funding and a $70 million repayable loan through the Affordable Housing Fund.

"So the agreement with the federal government with the development, with the developer is that of the 347 units there had to be some affordable units available, so it's 105 and the other stipulation is that it’s for seniors,” Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe at the announcement Friday.

“We know that seniors and affordability is very important to them."

As part of the funding agreement, 105 out of the 347 units will be designated affordable housing, which means they will be offered at 80 per cent below market value, or less than $1,000 a month, along with other conditions.

The total project is expected to cost $110 million to complete.

Site preparation is already underway and officials said the complex should open by September 2026.