GUYSBOROUGH — Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG) council says it will consider donating two pieces of land it owns in Cutler’s Brook Estates to the Community First Guysborough County Housing Association (GCHA), if the group can show that it has a “fully funded and approved” housing project ready to go.
At its April 2 committee of the whole meeting, council approved a motion to support a staff recommendation that ties the land offer to a shovel-ready development plan.
Speaking to councillors, MODG Development Officer Deborah Torrey explained: “Basically, what the recommendation is, is that if the housing group has a fully funded, approved housing project, then council is more than willing to consider a donation of land for a project that’s ready to go.”
But the donation isn’t automatic. “That’s a recommendation not to turn over a parcel or two parcels to them right now,” she said. “But, if they have a fully funded, approved project, then council would consider doing the land donation then.”
Torrey said the municipality would be open to providing a letter confirming its intent as a way of supporting the group’s search for funding. “If they had a funding application, for example, that they wanted to submit to the province for a particular project, then we would be willing to provide them with confirmation of [the] land donation as our contribution towards their project.”
Council also discussed safeguards to ensure the land is used as intended. “We’ve done that before where we put a clause in,” Torrey said. “If you don’t happen to build on this land within a certain period of time, then we have the option to reacquire it if we want to.”
While council expressed support, Torrey reminded members that a land donation triggers additional steps. “If we do donate, we can’t just donate. We have to go through the whole process of holding the public hearing. The Municipal Government Act (MGA) requires us to do that because, typically, we have to sell land for market value ... But, when it’s a straight give of land, then the MGA requires us to do a public hearing before we can even do that.”
The motion, moved by Councillor Dave Hanhams (District 4) and seconded by Councillor Mary Desmond (District 2), states: “The committee of the whole advises the Community First Guysborough County Housing Association that the MODG would be willing to consider a donation of land in Cutler’s Brook Estates subdivision for a housing project that’s been approved and funded. Further, the municipality is willing to provide confirmation of the land donations as part of MODG’s contribution to a housing project as part of a funding application.”
In an email following the meeting, GCHA Chair Nancy O’Regan told The Journal, “Council’s decision should provide a valuable opportunity for Community First to proceed with an affordable housing project.”
She said the group made its formal request for land during council’s March meeting. “We have had previous conversations about the possibility of a donation of municipal land for an affordable housing project in MODG,” she said. “We made the formal request ... for two lots in Cutler’s Brook Estates ... at the March meeting.”
According to MODG’s website, Cutler’s Brook Estates is a residential subdivision close to school, hospital, recreation facilities and shopping in the shiretown of Guysborough. It offers single-family home lots starting at half an acre in size, with prices beginning at $29,950.
This isn’t the first housing initiative MODG has supported there, having already transferred two parcels of land in Cutler’s Brook Estates to the Housing Trust of Nova Scotia, which is now developing eight modular townhouse-style rental homes for healthcare professionals. Using a mixed-income model, at least half of the units will be designated affordable, with full occupancy expected this year.
Meanwhile, Atlantic Edge Properties Inc., led by President Andrew Boudreau, has purchased a four-acre parcel in the same subdivision for $50,000, with plans to build 20 townhouse-style apartments in two phases.
In January, the GCHA finalized its first real estate acquisition – a six-unit building in Boylston – for $600,000, with direct assistance from the municipality. “The Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG) gave us a $10,000 grant for the down payment and acquisition costs,” O’Regan said at the time. “It’s our first acquisition and we are really pleased. We couldn’t build six units for twice that.”
The structure at 17738 Hwy. 16 contains five two-bedroom and one one-bedroom apartment. All units are occupied, and tenants will now fall under provincial community housing rules, which limit rents to no more than 30 per cent of household income.
“There will be no rent increases,” O’Regan noted. “All of the tenants will be able to stay where they are at the rents they are currently paying ... We want people to have leases they can renew and to make sure that they’re able to stay as long as they wish.... If it meets all the zoning and bylaws, we would like to be able to expand and build six more units on the back.”
The GCHA – formed in July 2024 – includes representatives from local municipalities, housing advocates and social support organizations. Board members include Maud Peters, Juanita Byard, Keith Towse and partners from the Canso and Area Development Association, the Antigonish-Guysborough Black Housing Association and others.
Reflecting on the group’s early momentum, O’Regan said, “I think the really important thing for me, and for the board, is that we do not take our foot off the gas.” She said the group has good partnerships and is encouraged by the strength of those relationships.
As for the Cutler’s Brook opportunity, she told The Journal last week: “The plans for this land will depend on the results of our housing survey [currently underway]. After we have analyzed the responses, we will be able to more accurately plan for the most needed type of housing.”
