Downtown Revitalization Toolkit

Plan

Feasibility & Financial Modeling Tools

Start smart. Before converting an upper-storey space or vacant storefront into housing, you need to know whether the project is viable. This section helps landlords, business owners, and nonprofits analyze feasibility, model costs, and understand risks.

Use our interactive financial templates and planning guides to:

• Assess rental income potential
• Understand renovation costs
• Identify project risks and return thresholds
• Explore phased redevelopment options

Whether you’re a first-time housing developer or a seasoned owner exploring a new opportunity, this is where informed revitalization begins.

Downtown Toolkit-Head Lease Financial Template (xlsx)

Downtown Toolkit-Head Lease Financial Template-Guide (pdf)

Finance

Funding & Incentive Programs

Bridge the financial gap. Small-scale housing conversions can be costly—and rural rental markets often don’t offer big returns. This section helps you identify funding opportunities, access incentive programs, and build sustainable financing plans that make your project possible.

You’ll find:

• A map of relevant grants, loans, and CIP programs
• Tips for stacking incentives
• Financing strategies for phased or modular builds
• Examples of successful funding combinations

Whether you’re financing a single unit or a ten-unit conversion, this section helps you unlock the tools that turn ideas into reality.

Affordable Housing – Funders-Programs (pdf)

Regional CIPs-Incentive Programs (pdf)

Approve

Municipal Resources

Understand the process. Speak the language. Converting downtown commercial properties into housing involves navigating zoning, permitting, heritage rules, and building codes. This section breaks it down in plain language, with checklists and contacts tailored to small-town Ontario.

Resources include:

• Local zoning and permitting guides for Perth and Huron municipalities
• Fire code and AODA considerations
• Planning department contacts
• Heritage building advice
• Pre-consultation tips and common approval hurdles

If you’re unsure where to start with municipal approvals, this section will help you move forward with confidence.

Downtown Toolkit-Planning and CIP Scan (xlsx)

Manage

Head Lease Template & Legal Tools

You don’t have to go it alone. Many commercial property owners want to support affordable housing—but hesitate at the idea of becoming a landlord. This section introduces management options, head lease models, and sample templates that reduce the burden of property oversight.

Explore:

• A sample Head Lease Agreement
• Property management partnership strategies
• Roles and responsibilities in shared-risk models
• Tips for maintaining community standards

This section is ideal for owners who want stable, long-term rental income—without becoming full-time landlords.

Downtown Toolkit – Sample Head Lease Agreement Template (Ontario) (docx)

About the Toolkit

The Downtown Revitalization Toolkit is a locally designed resource developed by United Housing with funding from the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program (OMAFRA).

Created in partnership with over 90 interestholders across Perth and Huron counties, the Toolkit supports small-town landlords, nonprofits, planners, and economic developers in revitalizing vacant or underused downtown spaces into mixed-income housing and community-serving spaces.

This online resource is built on extensive community engagement, including stakeholder interviews, facilitated consultations, and a formal survey that helped shape the Toolkit’s structure and priorities.

Toolkit Survey Results

In early 2025, we invited community members—including property owners, business leaders, planners, and real estate professionals—to share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of mixed-use redevelopment.

Key insights from the Urban Mixed-Use Collaborative Toolkit Survey include:

• High awareness of underused second-storey and commercial spaces across the region
• Key barriers: high renovation costs, zoning complexity, parking requirements, and lack of knowledge among property owners
• Most requested resources: financial modeling tools, case studies, and municipal incentive guidance Digital delivery was preferred for ease of access and integration
• Respondents highlighted mixed-use housing as a solution for walkability, workforce retention, and downtown vibrancy

Download the full Survey Summary Presentation:
Urban_Mixed-Use_Collaborative_Toolkit_Survey_Analysis (pptx)

Use the Toolkit to:

• Explore new uses for your downtown building
• Understand zoning, building code, and permit processes
• Test project feasibility and rental viability
• Access downloadable templates, funding sources, and checklists

Acknowledgement

This project was made possible through funding support from the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program, administered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). We gratefully acknowledge the Province of Ontario’s contribution to the development of this Toolkit, which supports downtown revitalization and housing innovation across Perth and Huron counties.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this Toolkit are those of United Housing and do not necessarily reflect those of the Province of Ontario.