Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish housing strategy
Happy Cities worked with Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia to develop a housing strategy that addresses local needs while preserving community space.
A rendering of one housing concept for the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish site in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. This concept explored the idea of building housing and a worship space around a central courtyard. (Happy Cities)
Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) faces a critical housing shortage fueled by rapid population growth. In the last decade, HRM’s population rose nine per cent, while rent increased by 26 per cent. HRM has identified the need to build over 52,000 new homes.
How faith-based institutions can help meet housing needs
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (OLGP) is looking at ways to redevelop its Saint Anthony’s Church site in Dartmouth to provide homes and community space for the neighbourhood.
Housing is a new endeavour for the Parish. The organization wanted to support the local community through housing, but staff were unfamiliar with the process. With the help of a Nova Scotia Community Housing Growth Fund grant, Happy Cities worked with the Parish to build capacity and develop a housing vision that was in alignment among Parish members and leadership.
Saint Anthony’s Church in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish is exploring the possibility of building housing on this site for the Dartmouth community. (Happy Cities)
Happy Cities facilitated several workshops to establish a comprehensive housing mandate and set of values and goals that would guide the project, including:
Develop a mixed-market model: Prioritize affordability for the most vulnerable while ensuring financial viability and sustainability.
Be the heart of Dartmouth North: Foster a sense of belonging, purpose, and community.
Maximize the positive impact for the site: Create spaces that serve the most vulnerable and build community.
Address food insecurity: Partner with local organizations to offer programs that tackle food insecurity and related root causes.
Maintain a worship space: Provide a chapel space for 60 individuals, with the flexibility to expand.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish housing values. (Happy Cities)
With these values in mind, Happy Cities then developed two design concepts for the site as well as preliminary pro formas for each design option. Each option considered the following:
A chapel
Shared community spaces, including a central courtyard, community gardens, and play areas
Community space to house the Parish food bank, other supportive organizations
A mix of affordable and market-rate housing
Housing that can support vulnerable groups, including low-income renters, lone-parent families, and older adults
A phased approach to development minimizing disruption to current operations for the Parish
Sustainable and green designs
A look at the two design options
The OGLP housing strategy builds a strong path forward for the Parish to provide affordable homes in Dartmouth, while creating a vibrant community hub for gatherings, worship, and essential services.
Unlock the potential of your land with community housing
The non-profit sector can play a leading role in addressing the housing crisis and strengthening local communities. Many non-profit and faith-based organizations own valuable land, but lack the expertise or capacity to develop housing strategies or build community-oriented spaces. As the need for affordable housing grows, land owned by non-profits and faith-based organizations offers a powerful opportunity to create equitable, financially sustainable communities.
Happy Cities provides development consulting services for non-profit and faith-based organizations. Together, we can explore the possibility of building affordable homes on under-used land, helping to generate income for your organization and provide much-needed housing for your community.
