By Emily Stonehouse
Many would note the construction at the intersection of Highway 35 and 21, next to the Minden Legion.
While speculations were flying on social media, Deputy Mayor for Minden Hills, Lisa Schell, took to Facebook to clarify any concerns. “Lots of people are asking what is happening beside the Minden Legion?” she said, before citing information directly from the Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton Housing Corporation (KLHHC).
She noted that the developers are undertaking an affordable housing project, based on a recent $2.4 million provincial funding announcement that came in January of this year. “This project is part of a larger effort to address the need for affordable housing in the area,” she quoted in the post, “with plans for 64 new units in total.”
Word of this initiative first became public in January of this year, immediately before the provincial election was called by Premier Doug Ford.
On Jan. 28, MPP Laurie Scott held a prompt and last-minute press conference at the Minden Legion site, which was attended by Minden Mayor Bob Carter and Deputy Warden Liz Danielsen. The grant announcement was following an ask from KLHHC for funding for two locations, one in Minden and one in Lindsay.
At that cold January press conference, Scott announced that both grants would be fulfilled, with $2.4 million going towards Minden.
This came as a part of the provincial announcement to contribute $75.5 million to municipalities to “restore safety to parks and public places,” according to Laurie Scott’s website.
“Our government has delivered significant support to municipalities to address the challenges encampments can pose to public safety across Ontario,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Mayors have asked us for additional help and we have been clear that we will provide funding to municipalities that show results in winding down these sites. We can no longer accept encampments as a place to deal with mental health and addiction issues.”
The plot of land next to the Minden Legion has been donated by Bill Switzer, who had approached Carter in 2018 about using the plot to fill in the housing gaps, ever-present in the village of Minden. The land travels next to Rotary Park, and alongside the Gull River behind the Minden Legion.
As of early last week, ground has been broken on the properties, and construction is going ahead.
Both the Township of Minden Hills and KLHHC were approached for clarification around details and timelines of the build, but neither responded to the inquiries at the time of press.
Further developments will be shared as they become available.
