Work is underway on Waterdown's latest housing project, after a groundbreaking at St. James United Church on Monday.
The development is led by Kindred Works, an organization that was started by the United Church of Canada to re-purpose church grounds into housing developments.
Reverend Ryk Brown, the minister at St. James United Church, said developing on church grounds is an important step to supporting the community.
"[The United Church of Canada] has thousands of churches coast to coast, and I would say hundreds and hundreds of them are in situations like us, where we have a lot of property that's just sitting unused, that could be better developed to serve the needs of the community," Brown said.
In a press release from the United Church of Canada, Janet McCausland, senior advisor for Kindred Works, said, “The sun was out as we broke ground on the St. James United Church redevelopment project, bursting with new hope for the future.”
The City of Hamilton approved a 44-unit rental building on the grounds of St. James United Church in February 2023. The proposed development will have a mix of two-storey townhouses and three storey walk-ups.
One-third of the units at 306 Parkside Dr. will be “below market” and classified as affordable housing units.
Development to help community with housing crisis
Brown said his congregation has been looking forward to this development for almost a decade, even before recent spikes in the cost of living.
"Housing costs are going through the roof, and so any way we can help make like better for our own community like that is a blessing for us," he said.
And by "our own community", Brown said he means the Waterdown community at large. Units will be available to anyone, regardless of their religion. While funds from the units will go back into the United Church, St. James United Church will not be the direct landlord, Brown said.
He said the congregation will host its own groundbreaking celebration later on in March.
In the plans for the new housing development, the church will remain on the grounds, along with a new community garden, children’s playground, a 44-spot residential parking lot and 10 spots for bicycle parking.
The approved development plan says that the church will have 50 parking spots once the development is built, instead of the 174 spots that are required for institutions, like a church.
McCausland said the units will be also be sustainably built, climate safe and accessible.
“The congregation is excited to see their efforts over a number of years finally come to life,” McCausland said in the statement.
