Planning grant for Habitations Maska in Saint-Hyacinthe
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - SAH
Sector
Energy
Project value$45,260
Project Type
Plan
Sub Sector
Building – Existing – Energy efficiency
Grant amount$25,000
Program type
GMF
Municipality
Ville de Saint-Hyacinthe, QC
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
57,239
Project timeline
2020 - 2021
Project number
17541
Description
Habitations Maska (“Maska”) is a non-profit organization that was created in 2014. Maska manages 15 affordable housing units in the outskirts of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. This project will expand Maska’s portfolio by adding 19 units to city hall. The project is aligned with the directions of the urban planning program for downtown Saint-Hyacinthe and will meet several environmental, social and commercial needs. The Saint-Hyacinthe city hall, which included 9 affordable housing units in poor condition, was partially burned down in the summer of 2020. Maska will purchase this building with the intent to renovate the commercial portions and the existing housing units (while adding 10 more units), and to add a public laundromat.
The renovation plan is very detailed and includes several priorities, including improving the building envelope (including its roof and foundations), replacing lighting fixtures, adding a green roof system, and installing a central heating and hot water system that uses heat recovery principles. In addition, the relocation of waste containers inside the building will make it possible to improve the layout and cleanliness of the public market in front of the building.
The initiative includes preliminary assessments of the building and the preparation of plans, negotiations to purchase the building, the identification of funding sources, and other administrative and technical steps that are crucial to its success.
Innovative aspects:
- Integration of affordable housing into a renovation project in the city’s downtown core. It will represent an exceptional opportunity to showcase good social support practices as well as the benefits of sustainable and eco-responsible renovation.
- Added-value services in the downtown area (laundromat, public washrooms, services for the public market) will compensate for the affordable rents.
- A better layout will be possible for the neighbouring public market.
- The integration of the building’s systems will make it possible to conserve energy while preserving the heritage masonry.
Replicability:
- The detailed work plan, which includes all pre-project activities, could serve as a model for other organizations of the same size and scope.
Affordability:
- All rents will be below 80% of the median rental market rate.
(Project description from original funding application)