Tenants worry as Dartmouth apartment complex goes up for sale
Tenants living in a rental community in Dartmouth, N.S. are worried that they may be forced out after learning the entire complex is up for sale.
Maggie MacInnis experienced homelessness before moving into Ocean Breeze Village three-and-a-half years ago.
“I came from an amazing place, Bryony House for Homeless Women and Children, but my kids don’t deserve to have to do those types of things ever again,” says MacInnis.
After learning Ocean Breeze Village has been put up for sale, MacInnis is worried that she and others won’t have anywhere to go if the new owners have their own places for the 30 acre site.
“My concern is that all of these people displaced at the same time, are going to be scrambling for a place to live, when right now at this point, there’s not one single place we could apply for as a family of four,” says MacInnis.
“I really love the place,” says tenant Leah Croft. “There’s lots of green space, trees around, playgrounds for kids.”
Elia Corporation is the current owner of the property. Croft says the company has a history of moderate, and reasonable rent increases, and that her rent went up by 2 per cent this year, but she’s concerned of the uncertainty of what could happen to her rent going forward.
“Everybody’s scared, we just don’t know what’s going on,” says Croft.
Residents say they still haven’t heard anything official about the potential sale from Elia Corporation, but they are prepared to fight for their homes if the property is sold.
“The neighbours here are ready to organize and not give up easily, because affordable housing in this province is barely accessible,” says tenant Celine Porcheron.
A number of tenants say they have already written to N.S. Premier Tim Houston to voice their concerns.
Susan LeBlanc, MLA for Dartmouth North, posted to the Nova Scotia NDP’s twitter account on Thursday, acknowledging that the property is on the market and asking for answers from N.S. Housing Minister John Lohr.
On-site management at Ocean Breeze Village said they heard about the sale from residents, but haven’t received official word from head office. CTV Atlantic reached out to the property owner, but their offices were closed.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.