Discussion:

Meadowbrook Housing Project Design

The final design for the Meadowbrook development will result in a ten-storey, 143,000 sq. ft. residential complex. The building will be constructed with 145 affordable housing mixed units, as well as shared community spaces on each floor. The mixed units will provide housing to single adults and families of varying sizes.

CHC has partnered with Community Living Windsor, Hiatus House and Family Services Windsor-Essex to address additional housing needs in a collaborative, dynamic environment that will promote health, efficiency and safety.

CMHC under the National Housing Strategy will “promote diverse communities and create a new generation of housing that is mixed-income, mixed-use, accessible and sustainable”. The Meadowbrook development is a mixed-income housing development approach that provides a more financially viable building offering housing to individuals with a range of income levels. Mixed-income housing buildings are developments that comprise differing levels of affordability, with some units at market rate and others available to low-income households at below-market rates. Mixed-income developments can improve communities and the quality of life of residents by accommodating a socially and economically diverse population in a healthy and sustainable environment. Meeting the substantial demand for affordable market housing in the community will provide stronger revenues, will benefit tenants along the continuum of housing need and will make progress towards eliminating neighbourhoods with 100% rent geared to income units.

Passive House Building Standard

CHC chose the passive house building standard as it is internationally recognized, science-based and proven to achieve exceptional energy efficiency and superior thermal comfort. Buildings are engineered to a very high thermal standard with quality materials and craft but with modest finishes for affordable housing. Passive house standards have been used in many affordable housing communities with projects being completed in cities such as Hamilton, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and Oxford.

Use of the passive house standard for the Meadowbrook project has resulted in increased upfront costs for construction however is estimated to achieve a 40% savings in overall efficiency over current building code and an estimated 33% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This reduction in heating and cooling costs will be offered to the residents in addition to increased comfort.

The Community Energy Plan (2017) sets a target to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 40 percent by 2041. Peel Passive House Consulting Ltd. completed a GHG modelling analysis for the Meadowbrook property. The results identified a 40 percent reduction in energy demand with a 33 percent reduction in GHG emissions for Meadowbrook over a standard building built to current code requirements. This project will build corporate knowledge and understanding on tools available to minimize energy and emissions on new growth projects.