Habitat for Humanity is looking to buy 416 Melvin Ave. from the City of Greater Sudbury as the site for a one-bedroom modular dwelling.
The single-family house will be earmarked for a veteran family or individual, states a report by city senior planner Melissa Riou.
During this week’s planning committee of city council, the city’s elected officials were unanimous in approving the property’s sale to Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North for a nominal fee of $5. City council as a whole were later unanimous in ratifying this decision.
The property was declared surplus and added to the city’s affordable housing land bank. A recent example of a city-owned property included as part of the affordable housing land bank is 239 Montée Principale in Azilda, which a vote of city council tentatively removed from the city’s land banking program earlier this week.
The city’s land-banking efforts have the city set aside land they owned, which they get shovel-ready for whatever affordable housing opportunities arise.
Sudbury.com reached out to Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North for additional insight on their efforts at 416 Melvin Ave. but have not lined up an interview as yet. A follow-up story will be published in the event an interview is granted.
However, several insights are available within Riou’s report to city council members.
The property, 416 Melvin St., is a 245-square-foot vacant city-owned land within Sudbury’s Donovan neighbourhood. Past Google streetviews dating back as far as 2014 show a boarded-up single-family house on the residential property, but it’s now vacant.
It was determined eligible for the city’s affordable housing land banking program due to its location within the settlement boundary, proximity to GOVA Transit routes, active transportation and proximity to other services, including schools and employment/commercial areas.
The property’s 2025 assessed value is $57,000 the total work estimate is $170,000 and the anticipated sale value of the house is anticipated to be approximately $350,000 once complete.
Habitat for Humanity mortgages require a zero-per-cent downpayment at a zero-per-cent interest rate and are paid over a long amortization period to aid in units’ affordability.
The non-profit maintains a buy-back option to ensure the unit remains affordable.
Habitat for Humanity’s $5 purchase of 416 Melvin St. still needs to be ratified by city council as a whole in an associated bylaw, but the unanimous support afforded to it by city council members this week points to a likelihood it will be ratified.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.