Halifax designates four new locations for affordable housing

Halifax City Hall is home to the Halifax Regional Municipal government and is one of the oldest public buildings in Nova Scotia. (CTV Atlantic/Jesse Thomas)

Halifax Regional Municipality is launching the Surplus Lands for Affordable Housing Pilot Program through the Housing Accelerator Fund.

The program aims to make surplus municipal land available for non-profit organizations to create affordable housing communities.

“The goal of this program is to reduce the upfront costs of non-profit housing construction by eliminating land acquisition costs, and providing land for one dollar to eligible, non-profit organizations,” the municipality says in a news release.

The pilot program includes four properties:

• 48 Pinecrest Drive, Dartmouth
• 15 Laurelcrest Drive, Eastern Passage
• 18 Scotia Drive, Bedford
• 6850 Bayers Road, Halifax

The municipality will also be considering applications for the pilot project that meet the current residential land use rules for each property.

Those that meet the requirements will offer new rental units at below average market rents and be ready to start construction by October 2026.

Community engagement sessions will be held around the municipality to learn about the new program and ask questions.

Sessions will be held on:

• Tuesday, July 15, 6 to 8 p.m. at Zatzman Sportsplex, Nantucket Room (110 Wyse Road, Dartmouth)
• Tuesday, July 22, 6 to 8 p.m. at Halifax Forum, Maritime Hall (2901 Windsor Street, Halifax)
• Monday, July 28, 6 to 8 p.m. at Eastern Passage Cow Bay Lions Club (65 Hornes Road, Eastern Passage)
• Tuesday, August 12, 5 to 7 p.m. at Bedford Public Library (15 Dartmouth Road, Bedford)

More about the program and open house events are available on halifax.ca.

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