‘Our hands are tied’: Kitchener councillor speaks on housing project for ‘rainbow row’

Affordable homes out and residents displaced, but more housing in Kitchener?

That’s the situation city council is in after Ideal Capital Ltd. purchased the townhouses at 93-99 Benton Street and 39-43 St. George Street, and proposed a 13-storey condo project on the land. The building includes 96 dwelling units.

The project cannot go forward without demolishing the existing townhouses, 13 housing units that are rented at less than market rate. Several tenants were rallying on Monday in front of their homes calling on council to reject the proposal.

Ward 5 Councillor Ayo Owodunni told CityNews that the applicant has met every requirement set by current legislation, which puts the city in a tough spot.

“What we want as a city, is a community where people feel like they belong. Where they have a place to stay and a roof over their head,” said Owodunni.” However, we do not control whether and applicant purchases a building and wants to build there.”

At Monday’s committee meeting, councillors deferred the decision to January 22, so that the developer and the tenants can discuss a path forward that serves both sides.

Owodunni said that the “easiest thing” for council to do is reject the proposal, but if there were an appeal, negotiations between the applicant and tenants could end up bring thrown out the window at the Ontario Land Tribunal, where developers have a high success rate.

Ideal Capital Ltd. has offered four months rent to the displaced residents instead of the three months rent required by law.

“Our hands are tied, options are limited, ” said Owodunni. “We’re just going to have to continue to have that conversation with the applicant to ask them, to challenge them, to push them, to ensure that they’re thinking about the community as well.”