Cost of Sarnia affordable housing project climbs $1.7 million

An additional $1.7 million has been approved by Lambton County council to complete a delayed 24-unit affordable housing project in Sarnia.

Article content

The cost of the expansion at Maxwell Park Place had been estimated at about $7 million before the county parted ways with the original contractor hired for the modular construction project.

Husky General Contracting was hired since then to finish work on the foundation, install 54 factory-built modules stored at a leased site in Sarnia, and complete the project.

“They’ve been on site for about a month, getting familiar with the progress to date, seeing what needed to be completed and getting supplies ordered, and getting everything ready so they can start the heavy lifting,” said Melisa Johnson, the county’s manager of housing services.

That initial work by the new contractor also includes preparing the foundation for services and installation of modules which will be trucked to the site and lifted into place by a crane, she said.

Article content

“We should have the first module arriving on site within the next week or so,” Johnson said. “They’re hoping to get about six modules a day stacked. It may be a little slower the first day and then a little faster near the end.”

It’s expected all of the modules will be in place by the end of October, the county said.

Work will begin then to enclose the building and construct common areas and stairwells. The building, which will be connected to existing affordable housing at 993 Maxwell St., is expected to be completed by spring, according to a county report.

Federal and provincial funding for the 24-apartment addition to the county-owned affordable housing site, between Maxwell Street and London Road, was announced in March 2021 and an initial building permit was issued late that year.

Article content

The county opted for modular construction, with factory-built units shipped to Sarnia to be placed on a foundation, hoping to speed construction. But foundation work paused in 2022 when unexpected organic material was found in the soil.

More delays followed with the discovery of buried water and power lines not on the original plans, weather and supply chain issues, labor shortages and foundation design changes.

Foundation work resumed after an updated building permit was issued in late 2023 and construction paused again early this year. At that time, the county said, in its view, the original contractor had not met the terms and conditions of its agreement.

A recent county report said the additional costs incurred for the project “are subject to recovery proceedings through litigation.”

Article content

Like the existing affordable housing at the site, the addition will be for seniors and those eligible for March of Dimes supportive housing in six new barrier-free apartments.

The report said county staff have begun selecting tenants for the new project.

County housing services staff are also holding a drop-in session on Oct. 8, from 7 pm to 8 pm, at Queen Elizabeth II elementary school on Aberdeen Avenue to share information about a three-storey affordable housing project planned for county-owned land on Kathleen Avenue in Sarnia.

The county previously said a $16.5-million affordable housing project at the site could create up to 50 new units.

Design drawings will be available at the open house and county representatives will be on hand to answer questions and discuss details of the project.

A zoning application for the project has been submitted to the city, the county said.

[email protected]

Article content