Town to Invest $2.5 Million of Housing Accelerator Funds to Support Downtown Residential Development

Whitby Town Council has approved $2.5 million – or ten per cent – of its Federal Housing Accelerator Fund grant received to be used toward projects that spur residential development in Downtown Whitby.

The funding will be made available through the Town’s existing Community Improvement Plan (CIP), a program aimed at supporting local businesses and stimulating new investment in Downtown Whitby. Partial Development Charge Exemptions will be provided for High Density Residential and Mixed-use Residential development projects supported through the funding. Collectively, these projects will help provide residents with new housing options within walking distance of downtown businesses and amenities, along rapid transit routes – helping to create a more connected, pedestrian-friendly community.

Updates on the Town’s HAF initiatives, including the CIP, will continue to be shared as they move ahead over the next three years.

Quotes

“I’m very pleased that, just days after Whitby received $24.9 million from the Housing Accelerator Fund, work is already underway to create more housing options in our community. Residential development in Downtown Whitby is key to ongoing revitalization efforts. It means more foot traffic and spending for downtown businesses and more housing options for people who want to live close to amenities and rapid transit. The Housing Accelerator Funding is a crucial step in addressing the housing crisis we face locally and across Canada.”

- Elizabeth Roy, Mayor, Town of Whitby

Quick Facts

• On January 23 (2024), the Federal Government announced the Town of Whitby is receiving $24.9 million in funding through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF).
• The Housing Accelerator Fund is part of Canada’s National Housing Strategy (NHS).
• CIPs allow municipalities to establish grants, loans, incentives and other programs to encourage private sector investment in development and renovation efforts that seek to improve and revitalize areas or achieve local goals and priorities.
• Since the Downtown Whitby CIP was approved, the Town has invested more than $5.7 million to support various projects in the area.
• Each CIP program has a maximum funding amount, specific and general eligibility criteria, and an application review process to determine appropriateness.

For media inquiries, contact:

Corporate Communications

Erin Mikaluk, Manager, Communications and Creative Services, Town of Whitby
Phone: 289-314-6913
Email: mikaluke@whitby.ca

Office of the Mayor

Jillian Follert, Public Affairs Coordinator, Office of the Mayor
Phone: 289-387-9101
Email: follertj@whitby.ca