While construction is well underway, the expansion of Gillespie Gardens formally got the green-light from the Township this week.

At Monday’s (Oct. 16) meeting, members of council signed off on a site plan agreement with Durham Non-Profit Housing Corporation for the $2.8 million project, a two-storey addition that features 18 one-bedroom fully accessible units. Gillespie Gardens currently features 48 units – 34 single-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom – but only three are wheelchair accessible, according to the Durham Non-Profit Housing website.

The project has yet to be announced by the Region or Province, though Ward 2 Councillor Cyndi Schaffer noted that it’s not exactly been a secret.

“They started excavating the site back in August,” she said.

“During the fair, you could see the trucks coming down the street with the fill that’s been removed.”

In addition to the site plan agreement, members of council also opted to defer the full payment of $113,000 worth of development charges for the project.

Instead of an upfront payment, 25 per cent of that total was paid upon the issuance of a building permit, followed by similar installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of that date. In essence, the payment must be received in full three years after the building permit is issued.