Major housing development in Bridgewater could take 30 years to complete
CBC
The Town of Bridgewater is looking to build more homes amid Nova Scotia's housing crisis with multiple development projects approved or in the works, but the work may take decades to finish.
Town council recently approved a proposal for 886 units in a development that will transform an open field and woods on the edge of town into a new subdivision.
Mayor David Mitchell said that will be key to relieving the housing shortage, with the town's vacancy rate as "close to zero as you can get."
"We've got lots of people that are trying to move to this area," Mitchell said.
Bridgewater is one of the few rural municipalities that's growing in the province, as population rose three per cent between 2016 and 2021 to sit at 8,790. The town is projected to hit 10,000 people by 2036.
The development plans for a mix of five- and six-storey multi-unit buildings and townhouses on the 15-hectare site bordered by Jubilee Road and Exhibition Drive, two new streets, a watercourse, plus a large new park and trails that connect to the nearby Woodland Gardens.
But Marchand Developments will do the project in three phases, which the company says could take up to 20 years or more.
Consultant for Marchand, Chris Markides, told town council in January that the timeline depends on market conditions.
"If Bridgewater's population keeps growing then it might be quicker, and if it slows down then it might be a bit slower," Markides said.
Town planner, Mackenzie Childs, said the town decided to put benchmarks into its agreement with the developer "to make sure they follow their intended phasing plan."
According to the agreement, Phase 1 has to be completed within 10 years, Phase 2 within 20 years, and Phase 3 within 30 years from now. If the developer does not meet those targets, Childs said council could cancel the agreement and open up remaining parts of that land for other projects.
"We haven't really seen a development with that long of a timeline here before," Childs said.
Some time is needed to ensure the right infrastructure is in place, Mitchell said, because the town is in the middle of a wastewater upgrade and the system couldn't handle 800 units coming online at once.
The developer will pay fees to help fund some of that work, Mitchell said, but the numbers are still being finalised through town staff.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.
Students at the University of Regina are days away from deciding whether a newly formed student association should become their official representative body.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.
Prince Rupert, B.C., residents are celebrating the holidays this year with coastal flair.
In the four years Chelsey Simmonds has worked at the Eva Rothwell Centre, she has seen the need increase every year at the centre’s community food pantry.
CBC is once again looking to make the holiday season kind in Windsor-Essex.
Acute Care Alberta has extended its contract for another year with a private surgical facility at the centre of probes into health procurement and contracting.
As food bank use continues to climb across the province, front-line workers in Thunder Bay, Ont., are working to improve both food security and education.
More ads could soon be coming to Toronto’s subway system.