Collingwood wins award for ADU initiative

The town of Collingwood has been recognised for its creative solution for tackling its local housing shortage.

In August, Mayor Yvonne Hamlin and members of council accepted the prestigious Peter J. Marshall Innovation Award, presented annually to municipalities that show excellence in innovative service delivery and capital improvement initiatives.

The winning project, the Rapid Additional Residential Unit Initiative, makes it easier, faster, and more affordable for homeowners to add accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to their properties.

Through the program, homeowners can choose from seven pre-approved ADU designs, access support and resources to guide them through the process, and apply for grants of up to $15,000 total.

Since its launch in 2023, the Rapid Additional Residential Unit Initiative has issued 58 permits, created 24 long-term rental units, and distributed more than $172,000 in grants.

Collingwood’s Affordable Housing Task Force has called ADUs the fastest way to bring new rental units online. And the idea is catching on – Collingwood was the first in Ontario to roll out a program of this kind, but similar initiatives have since appeared in the rest of Simcoe County, Lambton County, Mississauga, and Toronto.

If more homeowners decide to build ADUs, that could lead to a wave of first-time landlords who may turn to property managers for help handling tenant relations, rent collection, and compliance.

In other words, programs like Collingwood’s Rapid Additional Residential Unit Initiative don’t just create more homes – they could also create new opportunities for property management businesses.

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