Shannon Park's neighbours call for affordable housing

A long-time resident of Dartmouth North says she's waiting to see if the Shannon Park redevelopment will benefit her community.

Linda Rowe has lived and volunteered in the area for 28 years.

"It's a beautiful plan," Rowe said. "But it's not a place I could ever afford."

• Shannon Park's Big Build

Canada Lands, the federal agency in charge of the site, is working on a draft proposal for 33 hectares of former militaryhousing that have been vacant since 2003. That plan is expected at the end of February.

It will be based on the public reaction to three concepts presented to the public in November.

"Building on this we'll take the strengths of each of them," said Chris Millier, a spokesman for Canada Lands. "We'll move towards a preferred concept that hopefully hits all the right notes."

Rowe worries because what's important to her has not been highlighted in the proposal.

"We need a recreation centre or a community centre and a place to buy food," said Rowe."We have a high number of seniors in substandard housing and it needs to be subsidized and affordable."

Mayor wants a mix of incomes

Mayor Mike Savage agreedthe new community must be diverse.

"I do think this an opportunity for us to use density bonusing, land planning and zoning to make sure that we have a mix of incomes in that neighbourhood," said Savage.

The developer behind another big project onthe Dartmouth waterfront thinksadding affordable housing to the Shannon Park development should be no problem.

Francis Fares is constructingresidential buildings at King's Wharf.

"Affordable housing is blended into high-end developments where nobody knows, and that's the most successful model," said Fares. "You want to be appealing to the widest population in that location."

Municipal conditions, such as affordable housing, will be worked into the plan during a year-long approval process expected to begin the spring.

Until then Linda Rowe and her neighbours will wait and hope.

"What I really want to see is an emphasis on our history," said Rowe. "That it's all about family and the connections to the community so our economy will grow a little."

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