Pickering finally cashes in to tune of $5+ million from Queen’s Park for exceeding housing target. The City may be a tad slow but like the tortoise it get to the finish line eventually.
Pickering Receives $5.2M for Exceeding Housing Target in Record-Breaking 2023
Queen’s Park grants Pickering $5+ million
March 13, 2024 – Today, Premier Doug Ford announced that the City of Pickering will be receiving $5.2M in funding for exceeding its 2023 housing target, through the Province of Ontario’s Building Faster Fund, which incentivizes municipalities to tackle housing supply issues, by providing performance-based funding for housing and community infrastructure.
Home building boom created by Pickering
2023 was a record-breaking year for the City of Pickering. Not only did it break ground on a total of 1,502 new housing units, surpassing its housing target by 58 per cent, it also issued 1,933 building permits, with an estimated construction value of $853M. In addition, it received 1,972 new development applications last year with an estimated construction value of $1.26B. This represents the highest number of both development applications received and building permits issued in a single calendar year for Pickering.
A variety of home types
Pickering’s dynamic growth story unfolds with a diverse array of development forms and distinct neighbourhoods. The City Centre District and Kingston Road Corridor is experiencing densification and increased building heights, providing practical and appealing residential options for first-time home buyers and those looking to downsize. In contrast, greenfield development in the Seaton community, offers a range of low-rise housing options particularly attractive to young and growing families.
Middle type homes included in the mix
Of note, a significant number of ‘missing middle’ type of development projects are being built across Pickering, which play a crucial role in addressing the housing crisis by filling in the gap between traditional single-family homes and large-scale condo/apartment buildings. Additionally, with the Province prioritizing accessory dwelling units, many Pickering homeowners have already applied to incorporate this type of gentle density into their established neighbourhoods. Ultimately, new and existing residents have more housing choices, including attainable housing options, in Pickering versus many other GTA municipalities.
Pickering named #3 in livable cities in Ontario
As the gateway city to Toronto, York, and Durham Regions, Pickering has become one of the most desirable cities in Ontario to live, work, and invest in, and is projected to become one of the largest municipalities in Durham Region. Most recently, the Globe and Mail named Pickering one of the Top 3 Livable Cities in Ontario.
Ford said…
“Pickering is getting it done on housing and we are proud to reward them for their success. I’m so proud of Mayor Kevin Ashe and his council colleagues for leading their progress toward their housing targets last year. My challenge to Mayor Ashe and to every mayor in Ontario is to get even more homes built in the coming years so we can make life more affordable and keep the dream of homeownership alive for families across the province. We’ll be there to support you every step of the way.” Doug Ford, Premier, Ontario
Ashe replied
“As Pickering will be one of Durham’s largest cities, we are steadfast in our commitment to creating a sustainable, interconnected, and flourishing community that offers a diverse array of housing choices for all residents. I extend my thanks to Premier Ford and the Province of Ontario for the funding provided through the Building Faster Fund, which will be instrumental in building homes faster and ensuring attainable and affordable housing options. Thank you to City staff for their tremendous work in all facets of planning and development as well as building and construction, which is helping to address this housing crisis.”
Kevin Ashe, Mayor, City of Pickering
