• On May 11, 2021, the Affordable Housing Framework outlined the development of an innovative strategy to accelerate the development of affordable homes across Waterloo Region over the next five years (Report CSD-HOU-21-05/PDL-ECD-21-05). The strategy, Building Better Futures, encompasses strategic funding investments by the Region and a leveraging of federal and provincial grant programs to supplement these efforts in the creation of up to 2,500 new affordable homes along with our partners. The strategy also includes the use of lands surplus to the needs of the Region for the purposes of developing affordable housing, furthering efforts to achieve affordability for all.
• This strategy includes identifying vacant Regional lands for the purpose of developing affordable housing. To support this initiative, the Region of Waterloo sought proposals for a land lease of 30 Lauris Avenue in Cambridge to develop mixed-income residential development.
• The RFP and disposition process presents an opportunity to target specific housing needs in Waterloo Region, and to incorporate the learnings from the Beechwood affordable housing project initiated in 2020. The Region is developing community profiles for each site to ensure projects are responsive to neighbourhood needs.

Consent Applications B14/23, B15/23 and B16/23 - Sever three new residential lots

Status: Approved with conditions by the City of Cambridge on May 31, 2023.

Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment OR03/23 - To assess opportunities for increased density on the property, allow for building typology to include apartments, rezone the lands from N1R4 to N1RM3 and align site-specific parking rates with supporting studies.

Status: Approved by the City of Cambridge on December 20, 2023.

The Region of Waterloo hosted public information sessions for the community to ask questions about the property, the recent Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment applications, and how this work will support housing affordability in our community. Input was gathered from the community and included in the RFPs to help inform submissions for development.

• City of Cambridge Council Meeting, City of Cambridge Council Chambers: Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 6:30PM
• Planning - Statutory Public Meeting, City of Cambridge Council Chambers: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 6:30PM
• Virtual Information Session: Wednesday, July 19, 2023, 7:00PM - 8:00PM
• In-person Information Session (drop-in): Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 5:30PM - 7:30PM at The W, 20 Dickson Street Unit 101, Cambridge, Ontario
• Virtual Information Session: Thursday, May 25, 2023, 7:00PM - 8:00PM
• In-person Information Session (drop-in): Thursday, May 18, 2023, 5:30PM - 7:30PM at Alison Neighbourhood Community Centre, 127 Elgin Street North, Cambridge, Ontario

Neighbourhood Meeting

• Thursday, August 20, 2026, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Location: St. Anne Catholic Elementary School (gymnasium), 127 Elgin Street North, Cambridge

• The Region of Waterloo is working with the Central Ontario Co-operative Housing Federation to bring 101 new co-operative rental homes to the neighbourhood. All homes will be offered below market rent.
• The five-storey building has been shaped by community feedback. Final approvals are underway, and construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in fall 2026 once permits are in place, with measures to support safety and reduce disruption.
• Regional staff and Central Ontario Co-operative Housing Federation will attend this Neighbourhood Information Meeting to provide information about the housing initiative at 30 Lauris Ave and details about co-op housing.
• Residents are invited to attend an information meeting to learn more about the plans, timelines, and how co-operative housing works
• No registration is required and there will be no formal presentation. Residents are invited to drop in at any time between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• All neighbours are welcome to attend. A children’s activity and frozen treats will be available.

Did you miss these events? Not to worry, recordings of the virtual sessions are available in the videos tab on the right of this page and the presentation boards are available in the documents tab.

If you have any questions or feedback, please reach out to Ashley Graham, Development Portfolio Manager at ashgraham@regionofwaterloo.ca

• CSD-HOU-21-05/PDL-ECD-21-05
• PDL-LEG-21-39/CSD-HOU-21-17
• CSD-HOU-23-019

A public Request for Proposal (RFP) for the development of affordable housing units was open to private and non-profit developers. A selection committee comprised of Regional staff from Planning, Development, and Legislative Services, Housing, Facilities, and Procurement evaluated the submissions based on an established evaluation framework, which included weighted measures, focused on, but not limited to:

• Regional Guidelines: Submission of specific deliverables that address things like built form, context-sensitivity, open space, amenity provisions, and leading-edge innovation in social and environmental sustainability;
• Number of Affordable Units: Percentage of affordable housing units above a minimum of 30% and depth of affordability (affordable is defined as rents at or below 80% of Median Market Rent);
• Duration of Affordability: Target a minimum 40-year duration of affordability. This could include innovative land-lease proposals or agreements and weighted ranking criteria;
• Fit: Integration into the community (e.g. through design excellence and use of high-quality materials);
• Accessibility: Accessibility features above minimum building code requirements, achieve VisAbility or universal design standards;
• Sustainability: Promote net-zero operational carbon targets;
• Community Benefit: Consider a community space and/or commercial service where specified through the RFP:
• Commit to providing a smoke-free building;
• Consider community benefit agreement through a commitment to provide training of skilled labour to apprentices and/or un/underemployed individuals, and/or to incorporate youth employment opportunities during construction;
• Consideration given to submissions that pilot innovative partnership opportunities (e.g., special long-term land lease agreements, targeted tenure, depth of affordability, specific community benefits); and
• Other criteria as established.

On October 7th, 2024, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was released on the Region's Bids & Tenders page (Bids and Tenders - ROW). The Request for Proposal sought a qualified proponent for the development and management of affordable rental housing for low to moderate income households. 30 Lauris Avenue will be maintained in Regional ownership through a land lease for a term not less than 57 years. A timeline on development will be determined once a partnership is finalized for the project.

View details here: https://regionofwaterloo.bidsandtenders.ca/Module/Tenders/en/Tender/Detail/910b5276-ea48-4e43-a132-0f09b9c4c43b

With the need for affordable housing growing, the Region is dedicated to increasing and preserving up to 3,500 affordable homes by the end of 2029 through our Building Better Futures strategy.

The Region increases the number of affordable homes in many ways, including through the use of Regionally-owned and acquired lands, funding and resources, partnerships, and community engagement.

Providing Regional lands in exchange for affordable housing units is one of a number of approaches the Region is utilizing in an effort to support the creation of affordable housing units. Learn more about the Affordable Housing Plan.