KENTVILLE, NS - Three residential buildings and a pocket community will soon occupy the former Kings County Academy land on Kentville’s School Street.
The Town of Kentville has finalized the sale of the land to Enqore Developments and Ryan’s Pocket Housing Co-Operative Limited. Kentville town council unanimously supported the sale.
Enqore will build three residential buildings with apartments 1,000 to 1,500 square feet in size and a pocket community of 16 to 20 town houses 600 to 900 square feet in size circling communal green spaces. The town houses will have individual driveways while the three larger buildings will feature underground parking.
Town of Kentville chief administrative officer Mark Phillips said this development would address a housing need that currently exists in the community.
“We are confident that this development will provide options for a blended community, from young professionals to seniors looking to downsize,” Phillips said.
John Ghosn of Enqore Developments said working with Susan Harvie’s group at Ryan’s Pocket has been “extremely inspiring.”
“Together we are creating a beautiful and thoughtful community that will support many diverse groups of residents,” Ghosn said.
Harvie is the president and co-founder of Ryan’s Pocket with Peter Kirkpatrick, secretary and treasurer. She said the concept of a pocket community is unique in Atlantic Canada.
“We see paths adjoining the homes which surround a large, central, traffic-free greenspace. There will be benches for people to sit and talk and an activity complex with businesses serving the wider neighbourhood such as a café, a daycare centre and a laundromat,” Harvie said.
Kentville Mayor Sandra Snow said the experience with Ghosn and Enqore Developments, combined with the local enthusiasm and determination of Harvie’s group, has created a wonderful one-of-a-kind development for Kentville.
“This is a project that will continue to be enjoyed by the Town of Kentville and its citizens for many years into the future,” Snow said.
