More affordable housing coming to Kings County

Seniors, families and people from diverse communities will soon have more affordable housing options in New Minas.

Under the Land for Housing Initiative, the province is providing Valley Roots Housing Association 0.7 hectares of provincially owned land on Highbury Road. The association has proposed the development of a pocket neighbourhood made up of 24 affordable units, including two fully accessible units, where people can live independently within their own community setting.

“Demand for housing is high and supply is low. We know that increasing housing supply is the answer,” said Premier Tim Houston in a news release.

“Making unused provincial land available for housing projects like this is one way we are working with communities to end the housing crisis.”

The proposed co-operative housing development features a mix of one- to threebedroom units with passive solar design to support a goal to achieve net-zero energy efficiency. Proposed rents will be affordable at or below 80 per cent of the average market rate.

Pre-development planning and design work has started, with the aim to break ground by early 2024. This will be the first development for Valley Roots Housing Association.

“The housing crisis has brought municipalities, community agencies, businesses and government together in the Annapolis Valley to find sustainable and attainable housing solutions for our residents. This opportunity with the province will be the first of several neighbourhood developments we have planned throughout the Valley, utilizing a unified co-operative housing model,” said Mary Fox, executive director of the Community Inclusion Association and vice-chair of Valley Roots Housing Association.