Ontario's Prince Edward County (PEC) region has become a popular tourist destination with more than 40 wineries, a series of art galleries and plenty of hospitality and recreation destinations. 

But with that popularity, there is a cost.

“The problem is housing. There’s a lack of worker housing, there’s a lack of rental housing. So in the early days, we heard: housing is needed, and not just market housing but a wide variety of housing,” Alexandra De Gasperis, vice-president at DECO Communities, told RENX Homes.

PEC’s population is 25,704, according to Statistics Canada. It is located about 150 kilometres east of the Greater Toronto Area.

DECO, which is part of PEC Community Partners, a master-planned development in Picton, recently welcomed CaraCo Group of Companies, Fieldgate Homes and Paradise Developments to a group that also includes PEC Placemaking and Rockport Group.

The partners will soon begin construction of phase one at a large development on a piece of ground that occupies a place in Canada’s wartime history.

“The property has a significant historical context to it. It is a former World War Two air training facility which saw Allies across the globe come to Canada to train in flying and gunnery and in bombing," De Gasperis said. "It was a really big Canadian push in the war effort. They were a significant employer at the time, and continued to be a significant employer until about the '60s, when the base shut down.'

Base31 and the development

Base31 sits on a 750-acre tract of land that includes 52 buildings which made up the air force installation - which occupies 70 acres - while the rest is currently green space.

The group has already invested $50 million in the three years it has owned the property and this includes $12 million for water infrastructure.

It is planning on providing a variety of market-value homes and also affordable, purpose-built rentals. The first project will be a multi-storey apartment on the current base, which is being revitalized by PEC Community Partners.

“It’s a 120-unit building, mid-rise building, seven stories, and we’re tremendously excited about that and it’s a recognition of the need for housing on the site and a way to make a significant impact with the first event of construction,” said Gennaro DiSanto, CEO of CaraCo in nearby Kingston.

Because it is on historical land, the partners' plan aims to honour the heritage buildings which are to remain intact.

“We need to respect the institute and the buildings that are around this newly constructed building and therefore we’ve incorporated several design features in the exterior design of the building that integrates well with everything that’s around it and respects the history of the site,” DiSanto explained.

“It’ll take some time but hopefully within the next 24 to 30 months, we’ll actually have people living in the building.”

Local partners part of the development

By bringing on CaraCo, PEC Community Partners will satisfy an important mandate.

“When Base31 and the revitalization came up and running, it was about hiring local and sourcing local and the partnership felt a bit incomplete without that local partner," De Gasparis said. "Having CaraCo at the table, we feel very lucky and very excited to have them there."

With the new partnership in place, there is an ambitious development plan, she said. 

“The master plan actually has 7,500 units approved. Our OPA (official plan amendment) actually saw the approval of 7,500 units and so that is significant in the context of the county.”

The development will also include retail, restaurants and recreation areas that will build on the success of the concert venue that is already operating. 

“We have hosted some pretty incredible concerts, like The Arkells, The Glorious Sons, Charlotte Cardin, who’s become a sensational worldwide artist. We’ve had some really incredible experience(s),” De Gasparis said.

This translated to around 75,000 visitors to the property this past summer.

“Right now we’re actually housing a Lancaster bomber, which has been an incredible draw. We’re looking to build around that to celebrate the history of the base, and World War Two, democracy, the whole bit.”

This past summer also included the opening of an open-air food market called The Commissary “which is made up of shipping containers, and it’s a really incredible outdoor space that also helps local food entrepreneurs,” De Gasparis said.

Developing a series of villages

Overall, the master plan calls for a series of housing developments PEC Community Partners is calling villages, which reflects the entire Prince Edward County makeup.

“You’ve got Picton, Wellington, Ameliasburgh: Prince Edward County is made up of these series of villages and we really wanted to celebrate that, and so what we did was, we created a series of villages within the master plan itself.”

As for the homes, the partners are looking at a variety of options, most ranging from about 1,000 square feet up to 3,000 square feet.

“We’re looking at townhouses, bungalows, detached products, stacked products and rental apartments; mid-rise buildings, seven, eight storeys going forward, and really the objective is to have something for everyone, and to really have sense of community that respects the history of the site,” DiSanto said.

De Gasparis added that a wide range of housing types are being considered.

“We would have singles, we would have towns. We’re also looking at laneway suites; secondary suites that could allow for rental opportunities to help subsidize mortgage or rental opportunities for perhaps elderly parents that are downsizing, or helping young adult children get (on) their feet. We’re looking to a number of different typologies that will speak to a spectrum of housing affordability, which is very important to us.”

The partners hope to begin earth work early next year and are awaiting a minister’s zoning order (MZO) from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, according to De Gasparis.

Despite challenges including high interest rates and a slow economy, the partners are positive the plan will be approved.

“We all know the market is not fantastic right now, but we are still eager to move forward because we believe that there is a market here for the market housing, certainly for the purpose-built rental building,"  De Gasparis said. "We are very eager to move ahead because we do believe we are providing a product type in a development that is very unique.”