Daily Herald Staff
Prince Albert city council will debate a new affordable housing application for 354 Sixth Street East, and a separate application to expand Northern Lights casino when they meet on Monday.
The Affordable Housing Program application was made by Prince Albert Community Housing Society (PACH) Incorporated. They are requesting $30,000 for eight affordable housing units. The request is subject to the applicant entering into a 15 year Operating Agreement with the City.
The anticipated cost for this project is $4.3 million dollars, with multiple loans and grants being provided by various organizations to help fund construction.
A City Council resolution from February 25, 2019 states the purpose of the affordable housing program is to provide non-profit corporations with financial assistance to create affordable housing units. To date, seven applications have been approved under the affordable Housing Program, providing funding to develop 33 affordable housing units.
This is the second PACH affordable funding application submitted this year. PACH previously received approval this year for the construction of five affordable housing units located at 1901 15th Street West. According to a report included in the agenda, PACH had intended to submit the corresponding affordable housing program application for this development in 2023. However, it was discovered through a conversation regarding the status of the application that it had not been submitted. PACH received $25,000 for the 2023 project in April 2024.
The funding for the affordable housing program is provided through the Housing Reserve, which is established under the housing reserve policy.The affordable housing program was established with the intention to assist affordable housing agencies in developing housing units.
The maximum amount of funding per application is $5,000 per dwelling unit to a maximum of $30,000, and in this case, as they are building eight new dwelling units, they are requesting the full amount.
Administration is currently reviewing the Development Permit Application for this property and anticipates a Building Permit Application submission in the short term.
Other items to be considered on Monday’s meeting include a development permit application for a Northern Lights Casino expansion. According to a report included in the agenda, the casino wants to add roughly 30,000 sq feet of floor space on the east side of its current building.
The report states that the casino hopes to begin construction in September, with work completed in time for a reopening in 2026.
Administration has recommended approval the application, as they do not anticipate any issues with the proposed site design, according to the report.
