Co-operative

Thank you for your interest in community owned eco-housing and the GREAT Housing Co-op!

We are rolling out membership and investment opportunities this year 2025. There are three kinds of memberships: 1) individual 2) tenant/subtenant 3.organization. Members can vote at member meetings, elect directors, and run for the board. As a co-op all members get one vote regardless of how many investment (“preference”) shares they may have invested.

Membership shares purchase are $500. Membership shares are refundable to members who leave the co-op.

First Project

For our first project, GREAT Housing is working to develop three high performance lower carbon six-plex units as part of Muskoka Community Land Trust’s (MCLT) Florence Street Development in Huntsville. We are targeting 40%+ units to be affordable. The co-op will pay a land lease to MCLT and share a property manager.

• The design of the buildings is complete. We worked with Passive Design Solutions to design the buildings (see original concept drawings here). PDS is one of Canada’s most experienced passive house/net zero design firms, including designing for affordable housing. These buildings are designed to be resilient and long lasting.
  

• The energy modelling is complete. Designed to the passive house standard, these buildings are modelled to use about 60% projected less energy use, including 89% reduced heating energy use. It is also designed to have low carbon materials. Low and predictable energy bills are a great support to all tenants, particularly lower income tenants.
  

• The construction drawings are complete.
  

• The builder has been secured. We are excited to have Best Life Group as the builder for this project. Best Life has a diverse portfolio of successful development projects in the Muskoka region, including low-rise apartments, mid-rise condominiums, custom single-family homes and cottages, residential communities, commercial buildings, and multi-sector renovations.
  

Investing

For this special start-up fundraising round we will be offering preference shares (investment shares) for members that are accredited investors. Minimum purchase has not yet been established. We anticipate that future investments offerings will likely have a lower minimum purchase and be open to non-accredited investors for shares and bonds.

Please see our event page for sessions on investments or contact us about investment opportunities.

If you would like us to contact you about potentially investing, please you the form below.