OVCLT – EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

 

Developer Partnership – Common Ground Project

December 24, 2025

Opportunity Villages Community Land Trust (OVCLT)

 

1. Project Overview

 

The Common Ground Project is a four-storey, 80-100+ units, community-driven housing development at 10 Taylor Avenue, Chatham-Kent, Ontario.

 

The project incorporates a combination of life-lease homeownership and rent-to-own units, on communityowned land held by OVCLT. This model preserves affordability in perpetuity while supporting mobility along the housing continuum for Chatham-Kent residents (as demonstrated in the spectrum above).

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The objectives of this project include but are not limited to:

 

• Create long term, sustainable value for community beneficiaries.

• Deliver high-quality, energy-efficient, resilient buildings.

• Integrate sustainability, including low-carbon design, EV infrastructure, and green roofs.

• Provide a mix of housing types, including affordable or attainable units

• Support community goals through inclusive design and public space enhancements such as underground or ground-floor parking, day care, and retail space.

 

2. Purpose of this Expression of Interest

 

Through this EOI, OVCLT invites qualified developers to submit non-binding Expressions of Interest for partnership in the design-build and construction of The Common Ground Project.

 

Respondents should demonstrate relevant expertise, capacity, and alignment with community-driven, and netzero or net-zero-ready construction.

 

3. Scope of Work Developers are asked to outline their capacity and approach to deliver:

 

• Proposal for design-build or collaborative delivery model options for 80-100+ units with a mix of 1 bedroom and 2-bedroom units and a small number of accessible units featuring barrier free designs

• Net-zero or net-zero-ready construction

• Long-term, life-cycle cost efficiency 

• Value engineering that supports affordability and durability

• On-site construction management

• Transparent scheduling and cost-control methodology including phasing if applicable

• Zoning and entitlement risk

• Construction cost escalation (what are the contingencies)

• Environmental risks

• Engagement with OVCLT leadership and community partners throughout design and construction

 

4. Submission Requirements

 

Submissions should include:

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• Corporate profile and legal structure

• Demonstrated experience in multi-unit residential construction (ideally inclusive of non-market, affordable, or community projects) including references, pictures of previous projects (if available), locations of previous projects

• Relevant project examples, including client type, size, budget range, delivery model, and outcomes

• Key personnel and proposed team structure (project manager, site lead, key consultants if known)

• Sustainability credentials, such as experience with net-zero, passive house, high-performance envelopes, or green building standards

• High-level delivery model and anticipated project timeline (from pre-construction through occupancy)

• Approach to collaboration with non-profit governance, community organizations, and social-service partners

• Confirmation of capacity regarding bonding, insurance, WSIB, and regulatory compliance

 

5. Evaluation Criteria

 

OVCLT will evaluate submissions using the following criteria:

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1. Organizational Experience – 25%

Relevant multi-unit, community, and/or non-market housing expertise; demonstrated performance on similar projects.

2. Team Capacity – 20%

Qualifications of key personnel; internal capacity to deliver complex, sustainable projects on schedule.

3. Development Vision - 20%

Demonstrated understanding of, and alignment with, OVCLT’s mission, values, and collaborative approach.

4. Innovation & Sustainability – 20%

Net-zero or net-zero-ready design experience, environmental performance strategies, and constructability.

5. Cost & Feasibility Awareness – 15%

Understanding of affordability constraints, life-cycle costing, phasing, and risk-management in a community-land-trust context.

 

6. Submission Process

 

Please submit your Expression of Interest electronically in PDF or Word format to:

 

Email:  opportunityvillagesclt.com 

Subject Line: EOI – Common Ground Project (Developer Partnership)

 

Deadline: February 2, 2026

 

Questions regarding this EOI may be submitted by email prior to the deadline. OVCLT may choose to circulate responses to all proponents, where appropriate.

 

7. OVCLT Rights

 

OVCLT reserves the right to:

• Accept or reject any or all submissions

• Request clarification or additional information

• Shortlist proponents for follow-up meetings, interviews, or a subsequent Request for Proposals (RFP)

• Modify, suspend, or cancel this EOI process at any time

• This EOI does not constitute a procurement contract, an offer to contract, or a commitment by OVCLT to enter any contractual relationship with any proponent.

 

8. Post EOI Steps

 

Shortlisted candidates will receive:

 

• Full site data package

• Community consultation framework

• Detailed request for proposal (RFP) terms

• Instructions for financial and design submissions

• Draft partnership agreement outline

 

Disclaimer

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This EOI is for information-gathering only. It is not a tender, RFP, or binding offer. OVCLT is under no obligation to accept any submission and reserves the right to modify or cancel the EOI at any time.