Martinway’s John Street Project reaches new heights in affordable housing

Brampton’s largest hole in the ground will reach new heights in affordable housing partnership building, says the project’s co-ordinator.

“This project is one of the largest affordable housing projects in the country and we have many partners which help make it happen,” says John D’Angelo, Martinway Contracting partner.

The “largest hole” is where Martinway’s John Street Project will rise out of and reach 16 storeys with 200 units for seniors, the handicapped and low-income singles.

A crane with a 50 foot reach was used to excavate and fill 130 trucks a day with dirt to get the project started. The massive dig will allow a six-storey underground municipal and residential parking facility to be built, a key part of the project’s ongoing revenue stream.

Martinway is partnered with the City of Brampton and Peel Region to develop the project in downtown Brampton. Martinway built the award-winning Millbrook Place in Mississauga, which resulted in 120 units for seniors and the handicapped and 43 units for the chronic homeless.

“Millbrook was the first affordable building built with no government funding. We established a rolodex of partners and companies,” explains D’Angelo. “People partnered with us not just because it was a building for the sake of a building, it was an opportunity to be involved and give back.”

Martinway’s corporate sponsorship program has played an integral part in projects like Millbrook and subsequent projects. The program has companies, from contractors and subtrades to banks, get involved in a project through direct or indirect financial or product assistance.

What distinguishes the John Street Project for Martinway is the goal to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), Platinum Certification and have it designed to Universal Accessibility Design standards.

“Roughly 10 per cent of the project’s value ($3.2 million) will go to LEED,” notes D’Angelo.

The project has been registered with the Canadian Green Building Council and if it does reach platinum certification, it will be the first social housing project in North America to do so.

Through the Universal Accessibility Design goal, the John Street Project will be able to help even more people in need, adds D’Angelo.

“Reaching the universal standards gives the opportunity for many handicapped people to live in any of the residential units in the project rather than just designated ones,” D’Angelo says.

The success of Martinway’s affordable housing approach has seen D’Angelo cross the country speaking at housing forums about the successful template his company employs.

“We want people to know, it can be done and it is not a stretch to develop affordable housing and help those in the greatest need,” he says.

Martinway was recently awarded an additional two Brampton projects that will result in 269 units combined. The units, developed with a church and the Canadian Legion, will be for seniors and families.

The second project is with the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church for 94 residential units for seniors.