KENTVILLE, N.S. — The vision is for a diverse, inclusive development featuring apartment buildings and a pocket community – and it will soon occupy the former KCA School property.
The Town of Kentville’s planning and development department has approved a site plan for the 9.27-acre property on School Street. Last year, the town finalized the sale of the land to Enqore Developments and Ryan’s Pocket Housing Co-Operative Limited.
Project manager Joy Elliott of Landscape Architectural Design said they are very excited to get the Ryan’s Park development going. It will be at least a two-year project and although there is more work to do before they begin building, construction could start later this year.
Ryan’s Park involves three apartment buildings, each three storeys high, with a total of 119 apartment units. Each will feature parking on the lowest level, not completely underground but tucked into the grade. The development also includes 18 individual town home units. The development would feature communal green space and could feature other amenities.
“There are plans on that drawing for an amenity building, but the actual use that will happen in there has yet to be determined,” Elliott said, pointing out that the housing units would be built first.
Elliott said the goal is to establish a development that would be attractive to a wide range of people with different lifestyles and backgrounds. Susan Harvie of Ryan’s Pocket Housing got Enqore Developments involved and initiated the project.
Harvie’s son is autistic and she was looking for a place for him to live. She envisioned having a group of smaller houses grouped together in a blended community, one that might also be attractive to seniors looking to downsize or young professionals, for example.
Town of Kentville director of planning and development Beverly Gentleman said property owners within 30 metres of the site have been notified of the approved site plan.
“We did have some calls but we didn’t have anyone come forward with an appeal,” Gentleman said.
She views the development as being hugely beneficial to a wide range of people who may be considering a move to Kentville or who may be considering relocating within the town. They have received a number of calls from individuals who have retired and sold their home but didn’t necessarily have anywhere to move to in Kentville.
“There is a need and a definite interest and lots of folks who want to come back,” Gentleman said.
Aside from those neighbouring property owners who have been notified, she said the general public probably doesn’t have a lot of knowledge or understanding of the Ryan’s Park development at this point since it has yet to physically take form.
An as-of-right residential development across from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research and Development Centre on Main Street that is currently under construction has people asking questions to the town about available living spaces.
The Main Street development is a project by Parsons Green Developments and involves four buildings with approximately 40 units each.
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