Housing crisis: Edmundston City Council takes concrete action

Jun 18, 2024

Believing that the addition of new housing is THE priority for the future of Edmundston, City Council agrees to implement concrete initiatives to stimulate the construction of more than 200 new units over the next three years.

The City of Edmundston has received $4,065,015 from the federal government to accelerate housing construction. These funds will be used to create new incentives for the construction of new housing units, and to develop model building plans that will be available at no cost to developers. In fact, eight initiatives will be put in place by December 2024 to accelerate housing construction.

"Our city is at a point of no return. We can no longer rest on our laurels and think that the housing crisis will resolve itself. We can't remain insensitive to the fact that a large percentage of our population is struggling to find housing, or to pay for housing. A city that makes progress is a city that looks after the well-being of its population. That's why we're acting now to give this crucial issue all the attention it deserves," explains Edmundston Mayor Eric Marquis.

One of the first actions authorized by City Council was the purchase of the building at 95 De l'Église Street. This will consolidate various municipal lands in the downtown area for major commercial and residential development, including affordable housing.

At the June 18 public meeting of the City Council, the City of Edmundston's Economic Development and Housing Coordinator, Isabelle Laplante, presented the action plan that will be put forward over the next three years, including:

• Investments in housing-related infrastructure
• Site preparation to support housing development
• Investments in affordable housing
• Designation of 10 municipal lots with the potential to accommodate more than 250 housing units. Some of these lots will soon be available for calls for projects.

"Nearly one family in four in Edmundston finds itself in a precarious situation, often powerless to find adequate housing to meet its needs. If we want to see the light at the end of the tunnel, our entire community must be involved," explains Ms. Laplante.

In closing, an open house will be held on Tuesday, June 25, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Centre Jean-Daigle, to present to the public the action plan in greater detail.

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 CONTACT: Isabelle Laplante, Economic Development and Housing Coordinator, 506.739.2080