City of Brantford confirmed that the sale of a portion of the former Arrowdale Municipal Golf Course was finalized on Monday, October 31.
32 acres of the 49 acres were sold to Elite M.D. Arrowdale Holdings Inc. for a total purchase price of $14,000,000.
Brantford City Council directed City staff to dispose of a portion of the former Arrowdale Municipal Golf Course through a transparent, fair and open process and to retain a portion of the property to be developed into a community park, late in 2019.
Council’s decision directed that proceeds of the sale, less costs associated with the sale, be allocated to affordable housing within the City of Brantford and that tax revenues generated from the redevelopment of the Arrowdale property be transferred annually into a reserve fund dedicated to affordable housing initiatives to help support our community’s most vulnerable residents.
With approximately 1,450 households on the affordable housing waitlist, the acute need for more affordable housing in the community has never been more urgent.
The City’s approved Municipal Housing Master Plan and Affordable Housing Action Plan requires $100 to 105 million in funding to achieve the City’s commitment to build over 506 new municipal affordable housing units in our community by 2030. After grants, and other contributions, it is estimated that $45 to 55 million of municipal funding is required from both the City of Brantford and the County of Brant to meet this goal.
The proceeds from the sale of the Arrowdale lands are a critical component to provide the necessary means for the City’s share of the funding to start meeting the increasing and acute demand for affordable housing in Brantford. The first affordable housing development to benefit from the Arrowdale sale proceeds will be constructed at 346 Shellard Lane featuring 70 units. These units will make a huge difference in the quality of life of those who, in some cases, have waited over 5 years for affordable housing.
Expanding and expediting our community’s supply of affordable housing is absolutely critical to offsetting current higher rent costs and decreasing the number of individuals experiencing homelessness. To date, a total of 179 new affordable housing units are currently either completed, or at various stages of development.
City Council’s decision also directed that 17 acres of the lands be retained for a community park that will be accessible to the public year-round. As a community park, this unique recreational space will be the largest park to be built in Brantford in 100 years, and given its scope and scale, will service both the immediate neighbourhood as well as the broader community. To view both winter and summer park design concepts, please visit brantford.ca/ReimaginingArrowdale.