The NCC is working with O2 Planning + Design to develop a Master Concept Plan with a modern, cohesive vision for the LeBreton Flats redevelopment. Key elements of the Master Concept Plan will include identifying public spaces, amenities, mobility, and land use.

The guiding principles of the Plan are:

Many groups, including Cahdco and the LeBreton Flats Community Benefits Coalition, have been championing the NCC to think about an affordable housing plan for the LeBreton Flats redevelopment. The redevelopment of LeBreton Flats presents a prime opportunity for implementation of the priorities of the National Housing Strategy, with its central location close to transit and amenities, its potential for the creation of a diverse mixed-use and mixed-income community, and opportunities for innovative partnerships across sectors. As a federal Crown corporation, the NCC has a responsibility to address the goals of the NHS in the redevelopment of LeBreton Flats.

During the HSC Innovation Forum, several participants asked Katie whether the NCC will be setting targets for affordable housing as part of the LeBreton redevelopment. Katie noted that this is their intention, but they haven’t quite gotten to this point yet as targets will be based on development phasing and financial viability.

The NCC will host an Affordable Housing Stakeholder Consultation on October 30, 2019. Cahdco team members are actively participating in this consultation session.

While it is exciting that the NCC is reengaging in a discussion about the redevelopment of LeBreton Flats, it is clear that we are still several years away from new homes being built and decades away from realizing the vision of a reimagined mixed-use community. In the interim, the site could be an ideal candidate for temporary modular housing to contribute to addressing the current homelessness crisis in the City, as implemented in Vancouver. Perhaps something for the NCC to consider when preparing the development phasing plan for the LeBreton Flats Master Concept Plan.

Modular housing units can be assembled on site in less than four months, are adaptable to site constraints and user needs, and can be disassembled and moved to any other location as a site is ready for redevelopment. Additionally, the modular housing model applied in Vancouver does not require any excavation of the site, and can therefore provide a temporary housing solution even on contaminated lands. To learn more about Vancouver’s modular housing solution, check out this earlier Cahdco blog post by my colleague Hadiya: https://www.cahdco.org/temporary-modular-housing-to-address-the-affordability-crisis/