**** CNS Media Release
More Land for Housing Projects Approved
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More affordable housing is coming for people living in Antigonish and Halifax Regional Municipality.
Today, June 19, Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness and MLA for Antigonish, on behalf of Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr, announced four more projects under the Province’s Land for Housing Program.
“The solution to the housing crisis is more homes,” said Minister Thompson. “The Province has unused land that may be suitable for housing. Making these parcels available for community housing projects is one of the ways we’re working to address housing supply challenges in Nova Scotia.”
The Province is providing the Antigonish Affordable Housing Society 0.59 hectares of provincially owned land on Appleseed Drive. The society has proposed development of at least 14 affordable units. The project would be an expansion of the group’s existing Appleseed Court housing community, which opened with 12 affordable units in early 2022.
A rendering of the proposed Appleseed project is at: https://news.novascotia.ca/pho
In Halifax Regional Municipality, newly approved land for housing proposals include:
— Affirmative Ventures – six detached homes on 1.25 hectares on Karen Drive, Westphal (PID 40204133 in the Province’s land registry)
— One World Building Association – 32 townhouses on up to eight hectares on Hammonds Plains Road (a portion of PID 40090367), plus future development potential
— Spryfield Social Enterprise and Affordable Housing Society – 48 residential units and commercial space in a mixed-use building on up to four hectares on Herring Cove Road (a portion of PID 00649012), plus future development potential.
The four projects are in the early pre-development and conceptual design stages.
Quotes:
“The Antigonish Affordable Housing Society is extremely pleased to receive this land on Appleseed Drive as it means we can take advantage of our existing community room and laundry facilities and enhance our ability to provide financial, environmental and socially sustainable affordable housing. It enables us to achieve our mandate of providing good quality affordable housing for the residents of Antigonish town and county who live on low or modest incomes, contributing to the overall well-being of our community.”
– Colleen Cameron, acting Chair, Antigonish Affordable Housing Society
“For over 30 years, Affirmative Ventures has been an innovative, not-for-profit organization assisting Nova Scotia mental health consumers and other persons with disabilities achieve lifelong independence. Friends and partners continue to be the key elements needed for building stronger communities within which our program participants thrive. Plans are being developed to build one-bedroom and two-bedroom units along with an emergency respite hub at this location. Thanks to the Land for Housing Program, we now have that opportunity.”
– Lori Edgar, Director of Operations, Affirmative Ventures Association
“We appreciate the support of the Province and Minister Lohr for the opportunity to help fix a major problem. We hope to be building quality, affordable homes for years to come.”
– Larry Thomas, President, One World Building Association
“We are thrilled that the Province has made this announcement. This is a great day for the Spryfield Affordable Housing Society! The contribution of this land enables the society to start the process of providing affordable, accessible housing for the residents of Spryfield, Herring Cove and the entire Sambro loop.”
– Chris Atwood, Chair, Spryfield Social Enterprise and Affordable Housing Society
Quick Facts:
— the Province has agreed to transfer ownership of the properties for a nominal fee, providing that the land be used for housing
— the Province identified several sites from the provincial land inventory that could be used to build housing; 25 property opportunity notices have been released, with 20 proposals received to date
— land for housing projects have also been approved for properties in New Minas, Windsor and Dartmouth
Additional Resources:
More information on the Land for Housing Program and links to property opportunity notices are available at: https://housing.novascotia.ca/
A Healthy Nova Scotia: Solutions for Housing and Homelessness:
https://beta.novascotia.ca/doc
Mandate letter of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: https://novascotia.ca/exec_cou
