Town Builds Momentum Towards Housing Goals

The Town has made significant progress to diversify and grow its housing stock. A new report shows the municipality issued permits for a record 621 new residential units in 2023 construction value of over $315 million, an all-time high. That number included the creation of 481 multi-family residential units.

Council members heard details of the year-end report on Monday night’s Committee of the Whole. Some highlights include:

The 621 residential units created in 2023 were 59% higher than the previous five-year average of 390 (2018-2022).
The number of permits issued for multi-family residential units jumped by 1200% from 40 in 2022 to 481 in 2023.
The value of those permits was $174,115,388; a 900% increase over the 2022 value of $19,343,000.
The overall construction value hit an all-time high of $315 million, more than doubling the previous record of $154 million.

“These numbers reflect Council’s decision to encourage development that works for Saugeen Shores,” said Mayor Luke Charbonneau. “A more diverse housing inventory – including more places for new families, seniors, and students – means a more vibrant, inclusive, and complete community. I’m looking forward to more of the same in 2024.”

Diversifying and expanding the Town’s housing inventory is one of the ways Council has sought to meet the needs of a growing community, as outlined in the Strategic Plan. The Town influenced the development of the multi-unit residences through the planning process and site plan control.

Council is set to receive the information on March 11^th. You can read the report HERE.