Demolition of Dartmouth housing complex to begin this month

Parts of an expansive Dartmouth, N.S., apartment complex that was once home to more than 1,000 people and loved by tenants for its low rents will soon be torn down to make way for denser housing.

Ocean Breeze Village is made up of more than 40 low-rise buildings and townhouses built in the 1960s on a 23-hectare plot just north of the MacKay Bridge.

A notice delivered to residents last week says the first phase of redevelopment will start this month with the demolition of seven buildings. Upgrades to sidewalks and water, power, gas and phone lines are scheduled to start in July.

People living in another seven buildings have been told to leave by the end of the year. The timeline for the rest of the complex is not clear, but the notice recommends all tenants prepare to leave "sooner rather than later."

When Celine Porcheron read the notice she said she felt one thing: fear.

"We were told that we have to get out now if we can," she said. "And, and to be honest, we can't. Most of us can't."

Many of the buildings are falling into disrepair, and the property owners say they are not worth saving, especially given the municipality's shortage of housing and the land's potential to accommodate taller buildings with several thousand units.

But residents say they love living there because of the low rents and unique character of the community. Some have already been evicted because of the upcoming demolitions, while others are waiting anxiously to find out when they'll have to leave.

Porcheron has lived in an Ocean Breeze apartment since 2017 and pays a little over $1,000 a month, plus electricity, for three bedrooms. 

"You're not finding that anywhere else," she said.

'I'm just getting priced out,' says resident

According to the latest data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the average market rent for a three-bedroom unit in Halifax Regional Municipality is more than $1,900.

"I want to stay in Nova Scotia, I really do," said the Quebec native.

"I'm just getting priced out."

Porcheron has known for more than two years that her time at Ocean Breeze is finite. The original owners put the property up for sale in 2021, and when it sold in 2022, the new owners, Basin Heights Community Partnership LP, told residents they were planning to completely redevelop the site.

Basin Heights is made up of some of Halifax's most prominent developers, including Cresco, Fares & Co. Development and T & H Group Developments.

Public property records show the sale price was $82.5 million.

Basin Heights is now preparing the land to be subdivided and sold to third-party builders.

Responding to questions from CBC News via email, a company spokesperson said 10 lots with capacity for more than 1,250 housing units will be available for sale in the initial phases of redevelopment.

They said the exact number of units in future phases has not been finalized, however the company is "aiming to provide more than ten times the current amount of housing."

Ocean Breeze has 397 units.

Affordability hinges on government support

The company said it will try to include clauses in sales agreements with builders that will lead to some affordable housing units in the new buildings, with priority given to current Ocean Breeze tenants. But they said that will hinge largely on government support.

Tony Mancini, the municipal councillor whose district includes Ocean Breeze, said the municipality doesn't have the means to subsidize affordable housing, and he doesn't think it's reasonable to expect the private sector to create affordable housing on its own.

He said he hopes the province or Ottawa will step up.

In the meantime, Mancini said he's worried that some of the people who will be forced out of Ocean Breeze could end up homeless.

"Some of them are on that line where it's cheque to cheque and a major increase in the rent, it will be devastating to them," he said.

Basin Heights said it's trying to help residents by offering financial assistance, and for those who have already been evicted, they have the option of temporarily relocating within the community.

A spokesperson for Nova Scotia's Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing said there haven't been any applications for housing programs related to Ocean Breeze, yet, but department officials have talked to Basin Heights.

"We've had several discussions with the property owners about our programs and innovative solutions the developer can use to maintain affordability as part of their redevelopment plans," said the spokesperson.

In an email, a spokesperson for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said if the developers wish to pursue any of the CMHC's programs, they will work with the proponent to maximize social outcomes.

Basin Heights said it's already talking to some potential buyers for the Ocean Breeze land. Premier Tim Houston said the province is not likely to buy it.

 "I don't think that's something that's in the cards," he told reporters Wednesday.

"We're kind of doing the opposite," he said, referring to the province's strategy of divesting surplus land to developers to build housing.

Disruptions to residents

Porcheron said she'd like to stay in her apartment as long as she can, but she's worried that once demolition and infrastructure upgrades begin, life at Ocean Breeze could become unbearable because of dust, noise and traffic disruptions.

Basin Heights said once it's received all the permits associated with infrastructure changes, it will share details with residents "to minimize inconvenience."

The company's spokesperson said it's testing building materials ahead of demolition and will use "dust suppression techniques … to control any pollution and discomfort to nearby residents."

"We are working with our demolition contractors to prioritize safety and environmental measures, ensuring that all demolition activities comply with regulatory standards."