Anhart Community Housing Society is looking to build affordable housing at the site of the former Union Hospital. 

Anhart would be purchasing the land from the city for $687,500 for 2.75 acres of land on the west side of the lot at 455 Fairford St. E. 

The entire area is about 5.5 acres and will be advertised to be sold for $250,000 per acre. 

The development will consist of 40 affordable housing units, including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. 

The city is also issuing a letter of support for Anhart as it is seeking funding from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) through its Rapid Housing Initiative. The CMHC announced with was giving out $500 million in project funding across the country. 

Mukhtar Latif, development lead for Anhart, said they will find a way to fund the project even if the Rapid Housing Initiative falls through. 

“It will be really pleased to find ways in which we could enable that to happen, either through the Rapid Housing Initiative or we are looking at other models too to enable the project to proceed regardless of the funding coming from CMHC,” he said. 

The motion to support the project passed city council on Monday night, and it got positive reviews from council. 

“I think this is a great project and it's a great property. It's in close proximity to downtown and it's a great use of infill in that area too,” said Coun. Crystal Froese. 

The former Union Hospital was demolished in 2016 and the city took ownership of the property in 2017. 

The city put out a Request of Proposal for the hospital’s land but there were no RFP responses. 

It is expected that, if Anhart is successful in securing the CMHC funding, it would begin construction right away.