Spotlight’s KW housing plan has major affordability target

KITCHENER, ONT. — Spotlight Development has announced a site acquisition in Kitchener with the intention to create at least 1,500 affordable homes as part of a project that could see 3,000 residences built in total.

The developer intends to deliver a "complete community" development with significant supports and services for residents including a 24/7 day care, employment programs, seniors programs and financial services, stated a release. Design plans are underway for the site, located at Courtland Avenue East and Block Line Road.

The building complement could include four residential towers with approximately 2,500 to 3,000 residences with a split of 60-40 between affordable and market-rate units.

Spotlight has announced partnerships with a number of non-profit agencies to deliver the affordable housing component including Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region, Trillium Housing and Good Shepherd Ministries.

The affordable units will be geared to low-to-moderate income families, seniors, newcomers and others. Other underserviced groups to be targeted include Indigenous Canadians, Black Canadians, veterans and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Affordable units will be funded through a combination of market-rate units, Spotlight for Affordable Ventures – the non-profit arm of Spotlight Development – and the Aria Foundation, a charity dedicated to affordable housing founded by Spotlight founder and president Sherry Larjani.

The project follows on the heels of Spotlight's The Inclusive development proposed for Toronto's Black Creek and Lawrence neighbourhood. The 3.5-acre site, currently a strip mall, will be redeveloped as a mixed-use community with at least 1,500 new residences. Non-profit partners include Habitat for Humanity GTA, the BlackNorth Initiative, WoodGreen Community Services and Trillium Housing.

The Toronto project was announced in April 2022 and in December Deltera Construction Management was announced as the builder.

"Kitchener needs more than housing — it needs high-quality, affordable housing bolstered by the right partners, services and programming that will create a healthy and sustainable community for residents. I am passionate about bringing this model across Ontario as a key solution to achieving affordable housing for all our communities," stated Larjani.