The president of Parsons Green Developments says Nova Scotia is facing a housing crisis, and a multi-unit residential development proposed for Canning could help mitigate that.

Noel Taiani said that due to incredibly fast-growing interest rates, inflation, and input materials and labour, there is immense pressure on developers.

He said his initial thought was that their Miner’s Landing development in Kentville would take a decade to build out, but they did it in three. This is because demand is “through the roof,” and Parsons Green Developments is experiencing little turnover.

The third apartment building in the project, which opened last year, filled before it was completed. He said there are enough people on a waiting list that the fourth and final building — due to be completed this September — would be filled before it’s finished too.

When Kings County council considered first reading of a development agreement for the Canning proposal, Coun. Dick Killam asked if the developer had been approached about provincial and federal supports for affordable housing units within the development. He said this wouldn’t be a burden on the developer.

Muttart pointed out that the term “affordable” is awkward, as what is defined as such may still be unattainable to those who need affordable housing.

Taiani said they don’t use the term “affordable housing” because it’s open to a wide range of interpretations. However, a yet-to-be-decided portion of the units proposed for Canning, somewhere between 10 and 25 per cent, would have rents no greater than 30 per cent of the median household income for renters in rural Nova Scotia.

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