Last week, the federal government announced plans to convert 22 federal lots in Ottawa into housing. Now, the government is sharing details about the options for those conversions.

These efforts are part of the recently announced Canada Public Land Bank, which launched Sunday. The initiative has identified 56 federal lots across the country that could be used for housing.

Families, Children and Social Development Minister Jenna Sudds on Thursday named two lots in Canada Lands Company’s Wateridge Village, the site of the former Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe. The lots could accommodate 495 residential units, with at least 30 per cent set aside for affordable housing.

“Where possible, these public lands will remain public. They will remain public through low-cost leases to keep development costs down and support the creation of needed affordable housing,” Sudds said.

An example of such a project is Ottawa Community Housing's 271-unit affordable housing complex in Wateridge.

However, industry experts say that it is not enough to have land to begin construction.

“It is also important to have financing, access to credit and tax incentives. All of these things together help to achieve the desired level of housing affordability. But starting with land is a good foundation,” said Cliff Udale, chief development officer at Ottawa Community Housing.

The government is accepting proposals for two sites in Wateridge Village.

Yuri B