How can we help you develop a Project Vision for your social purpose infrastructure?
The following steps illustrate a typical approach to the feasibility phase of project development. Working with Shared Ground, we can support you through each stage to help kickstart your affordable housing solution.
RESOURCES
Identifying the existing resources within your organization, your building and your community can be a helpful place to start when embarking on an affordable housing project.
Organization
Begin by reviewing the specific knowledge and skills within your organization and project team. This will help uncover any gaps in expertise that may need to be filled through additional training, recruitment or strategic partnerships. Consider broadening your team by inviting individuals who are passionate about your mission and can offer fresh perspectives.
Finances
Gaining a clear understanding of your financial position early on will help you set realistic project goals. Start by evaluating your organization’s fiscal stability, including cash flow, mortgage obligations and operating reserves. A current land assessment is also important, as it will influence future funding opportunities.
Building
Take stock of your current programs and the spaces they occupy—are there areas within the building that are under-utilized? Consider whether these spaces could be repurposed for housing or other supportive uses. This preliminary analysis will help you make informed decisions on how best to leverage your existing infrastructure.
Community
Explore the local organizations and services in your community that could support your project. Additionally, consider your site’s proximity to public transit, parks and other amenities. Highlighting these resources can foster collaboration and help integrate your development into the broader neighbourhood.
With our development workbook as a guide, we can take stock of each element together and pinpoint opportunities that deserve a more in-depth review.
ASSESSMENT
Uncovering the hidden potential of your land and building assets will provide you with the insights and information you need to develop your Project Vision.
Complete Zoning Review
The number of housing units that can be developed on a given site is governed by local zoning regulations. Not all zoning designations permit multi-family development, so it’s important to establish early on what may or may not be supported. Each zoning designation has specific requirements for permitted uses, setbacks, lot coverage and building height. If your current zoning does not support the number of units you’ve targeted, you may need to submit a rezoning application, or adjust your plans accordingly.
Evaluate Existing Structures
It is often said that the most sustainable building is the one that’s already built. If your site has an existing building, we can help you determine how it can be integrated into your future plans. Deciding whether to retain, renovate or convert the existing structure depends on several factors, including current usage and revenue streams, ongoing operational expenses and capital repair needs, structural integrity and system performance, as well as building code compliance and potential heritage status.
Review Development Options
If your goal is to convert all or part of your building into housing, we can help you evaluate its current condition and suitability. If you intend to preserve the building for a different community use, we can determine if there is adequate space on the remaining site for a housing development. This could involve redeveloping a surface parking lot or under-utilized green space, or considering a housing addition through partial demolition or building over the existing structure. If the site is vacant land, we can explore the full range of development possibilities, contingent upon zoning allowances and community need.
Develop Schematic Plans
Once zoning considerations are understood, we will prepare a schematic drawing package, including a site plan and basic floor plans, to support the proposal. This step includes determining the number of storeys, the number and size of units, and other key design elements and priorities that may be discovered through community engagement.
Engage Planning Officials
With the schematic drawing package in hand, we can confirm the proposal with the city planning department to ensure alignment with city regulations, and determine whether rezoning, subdivision or conditional use applications may be required. Support from the planning department will be influenced by a number of factors, including alignment with policy documents, community and councillor support as well as civil service capacity.
Shared Ground includes a team of architects who will prepare a schematic drawing package and act as your liaison with city planning officials.
PARTNERSHIP
The most successful affordable housing projects bring together a dedicated team with the right resources, united by a shared vision. Partnership development plays a vital role in harnessing the support and expertise you’ll need to bring this vision to life.
Identify Partners
Seek organizations that share your goals and provide complementary resources to enhance your internal capabilities. If your organization lacks direct experience in the housing sector, a partnership with an established community housing provider or developer will be essential.
Evaluate Strengths
Assess what each organization can contribute and how their involvement will benefit the project. For example, one partner might bring financial resources or development expertise, while another may offer specialized knowledge in providing wraparound care for tenants.
Establish Roles
Partnerships thrive when all parties have a clear understanding of their collective goals. Ensure that all partners agree on the shared objectives and assign roles and responsibilities to facilitate a smooth collaboration.
Formalize Agreement
Develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines the terms of the partnership, including a development summary, information about each partner and their anticipated roles, as well as key decision-making processes and mechanisms to resolve potential disputes.
Shared Ground intends to build a local network of potential partners to support your proposal and foster cross-sector collaboration.
FUNDING
Your project needs a clear, community-centred vision supported by a strong financial foundation. By targeting a mix of equity, funding and financing, you can reduce risk and ensure long-term sustainability.
Land Equity
Equity refers to any assets you contribute as the project owner. Your ability to leverage the equity of your social purpose land asset not only strengthens your funding and financing opportunities, it also enhances the overall feasibility of your project.
Funding Strategies
Your approach to funding will likely include a combination of grants or other non-repayable contributions from government entities or philanthropic organizations, as well as donor contributions. Having a diversified strategy is beneficial because it increases your chances of securing the necessary resources to move your project forward.
Financing Programs
Financing generally refers to loans, including long-term, short-term, or construction loans. Current federal funding programs for affordable housing often combine construction loans with non-repayable contributions in a single application. These loans offer longer amortization periods and lower interest rates than what you might find with traditional lenders. Programs are also designed to be stacked, meaning different phases of your project’s development – from pre-design to construction – can be funded through a combination of sources.
Project Alignment
Most provincial and federal funding programs for affordable housing have specific criteria for affordability, accessibility and energy efficiency. Requirements may also differ regarding the proportion of residential versus non-residential components. It’s important to stay flexible during the feasibility stage as your objectives may need to be realigned to suit new programs and opportunities as they arise.
Shared Ground can help you develop a funding roadmap and preliminary proforma to ensure you reach your project goals while making the most of available resources.
ENGAGEMENT
As you begin to shape your Project Vision, it will be important to engage both your organization’s core community as well as the site’s broader community.
Core Community
Engagement with your core community – including participants, volunteers, donors, staff and board members – ensures that the project aligns with your organizational mission and addresses the specific needs of those directly connected to it, fostering a sense of belonging and shared ownership. Questions should focus on identifying their housing needs and priorities, understanding their values and concerns, and exploring how they may wish to be involved in the project moving forward.
Broader Community
Engagement with your broader community – those within the larger geographic area or sector you serve – will help build trust, support inclusivity and ensure the project is well-integrated into the existing fabric of the neighbourhood. Questions should aim to understand the community’s perspective on the project’s impact, gather feedback and concerns, and consider opportunities for collaboration.
Shared Ground includes a team of engagement experts who can offer guidance on effectively seeking input at the appropriate stages of project development.
READINESS
Shared Ground is designed to help you establish the framework for your affordable housing project and set you on a path towards implementation, including confirmation of organizational, financial, community and land readiness.
Organizational Readiness
Ensure your organization has the right partnerships and resources in place. Assess your internal capacity to manage the project effectively and confirm you have the necessary documents for future funding applications, including financial statements, confirmation of land ownership and a recent property appraisal.
Financial Readiness
You will need a robust business plan, with a viable proforma (expected costs and revenues), identified funding sources, and a clear strategy for securing capital or loans. Additionally, it's essential to have your finances in order, including a healthy balance sheet, to demonstrate stability and readiness to potential funders and partners.
Community Readiness
Community engagement is a critical step in the development process. Even when there’s a clear need for affordable housing, community members from within and outside your organization may still have questions or concerns. Involving them from the outset helps build trust and long-term support.
Land Readiness
Verify that your land and/or building(s) are prepared for development. If subdivision, rezoning or a conditional use are required, include these timelines and costs in your business plan. You may also need to obtain specific studies or tests – such as a geotechnical study, environmental site assessment or a building condition report – before the project can proceed.
Once this evaluation is complete, we’ll outline next steps to maintain your momentum, such as applying for seed funding or becoming a pilot project in our research program.
PROJECT VISION
Your Project Vision is a holistic set of values, principles and objectives that will guide the development of your mission-driven affordable housing solution.
The journey toward implementing your vision may not follow a linear path; flexibility will be key as you gather new information and learn to navigate the complexities of the development process.
By leveraging the unique strengths and assets within your organization, carefully assessing your land and building potential, actively engaging with your community, forming strategic partnerships, identifying funding opportunities, and ensuring readiness at every stage, you can create a project that is not only feasible but also deeply rooted in the needs and aspirations of those it will serve.