The Mission Unitaînés organization, which is building housing for seniors in a fast-track mode in around ten cities in Quebec, has decided to abandon its project in Quebec City.
“We are going to withdraw,” said Caroline Sauriol, President and CEO of Mission Unitaînés, in an interview with Duty.
The decision stems from the presence on the site of an “unlisted wetland,” she said. This discovery would have caused too much delay in the completion of the project.
The building was to be built on a vacant lot on Antonin-Marquis Street in the Duberger-Les Saules sector. It was to have six floors and accommodate 100 residents who were guaranteed rent below 30% of their income.
Towards a 10e project elsewhere?
The project in the capital had caused waves for various reasons in recent months, but Mme Sauriol assures that this is not what motivated his group to withdraw.
A community organization active in social housing in Quebec had notably criticized the City for having granted Unitaînés land that it had reserved for another housing project. Citizens living near the land had also demanded that it be moved elsewhere.
The Quebec City project was the last to be officially launched this summer. Announcements have already been made in the nine other participating cities (Montreal, Longueuil, Granby, Drummondville, Saint-Hyacinthe, Shawinigan, Rimouski, Lévis and Terrebonne).
Mission Unitaînés is a non-profit organization created by businessman Luc Maurice to offer 1,000 affordable housing units for seniors in ten cities in Quebec by 2026.
The governments of Quebec and Canada are jointly investing $235 million in the venture. Mr. Maurice has committed to covering any cost overruns in the project. He has also promised to contribute $5 million of his own money to the overall funding.
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