/Minden housing gets greenlit
MPP Laurie Scott, Mayor Bob Carter, and Deputy Warden Liz Danielsen stand at what will soon be the entry point to 35 new housing units off the Gull River. Scott announced that the provincial government has approved 2.4 million for the project. /Submitted

Minden housing gets greenlit

By Emily Stonehouse

MPP Laurie Scott surprised Minden locals on Tuesday, Jan. 28 with a last-minute press conference, slated for 10:30 a.m. On short-notice, Minden Hills Mayor Bob Carter and Deputy Warden Liz Danielsen were able to meet Scott near the Minden Legion for an announcement regarding housing.

Last year, the Kawartha Lakes Housing Corporation (KLHC) put in an ask to the provincial government for two grants in an effort to support housing initiatives in both Minden and Lindsay. At the press conference, Scott announced that both grants had been approved for the full amounts; allowing the projects to move forward.

The ask for Minden was 2.4 million, and was to cover a project slated for the Gull River of 35 units. Since 2018, the property has been in discussions at multiple levels of government; hitting snags along the way with the Ministry of Transportation, as well as municipal zoning regulations.

“But now, all the work has been done in terms of geotechnical requirements,” said Carter. “And now it’s financially viable to start this project now.”

The property was originally owned 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.

At the time, Carter was a councillor for Minden Hills, and was the chair for the housing task force. “It’s been a team effort between councils and housing corporations,” noted Carter, “and we finally got everything signed off.”

Carter was surprised by the announcement that came through the early morning of Jan. 28, noting that he was informed of the news approximately 40 minutes prior to the press conference. While still slightly in shock, the Minden mayor is optimistic about next steps, and noted that KLHC is in the process of sending out tenders to break ground on the housing development.