Saguenay grants $4.5 M to Coderr Group for downtown Chicoutimi housing project

The city of Saguenay approved a package of incentives worth about $4.5 million for the Coderr Group’s plan to build a 79‑unit residential building in downtown Chicoutimi. The incentives include a 10‑year tax abatement valued at $2.3 million, a land donation assessed at $311 000, and a cash contribution of $1.9 million. The municipality also granted a parking‑waiver exemption because the site is within 300 metres of a public transit terminus. The project is intended to provide housing for young people transitioning out of the Department of Youth Protection, addressing a local need.

The initiative occurs amid a broader housing affordability crisis in Quebec, where rising rents and home prices are limiting access for younger generations. Commentators note that the scarcity of supply, combined with market dynamics, is driving price increases and call for increased construction to alleviate the shortage.