A non-profit organization in Saint John, New Brunswick, has embarked on a mission to transform abandoned buildings scattered throughout the city into affordable housing units. The initiative, dubbed “Vacant to Vibrant,” is spearheaded by Brent Harris, the founder of the Saint John Tool Library.
Harris and his team are working to purchase vacant properties and renovate them into transitional housing units. They have identified 134 vacant buildings in the city that could potentially be converted into housing. The first property targeted for renovation is located on Bay Street and could provide shelter for up to four people.
“We’ve started to build a plan for rehab on that. We’ve started to build a bit of a price tag on that, and we’ve found the funding sources that we can apply to,” said Harris, adding that the project has already received some financial pledges.
Harris emphasized the cost-effectiveness of renovating vacant buildings compared to constructing new units. “The beautiful thing about vacancy is that you have a standing envelope. Even if it needs a new roof, new window, new doors … that’s all doable work. Not only is it cheaper than building from scratch, but it’s also much faster and much less complex.”
The Vacant to Vibrant initiative has garnered support from community members and stakeholders. Graham Savage, who was involved in the development of the Cloverdale Centre for Women transitional home in 2022, believes that Saint John is facing a “crisis situation” with homelessness and that the project offers a much-needed solution.
“We have a number of properties around this city that would be salvageable,” said Savage, noting the potential to develop an additional dwelling unit on an empty lot adjacent to the Bay Street location. “We could be between seven or eight people who we find a place for and give a chance for them to transition away from the streets and back into a much better shelter situation.”
Despite the challenges in securing financing for affordable housing projects, the Vacant to Vibrant team is optimistic about its potential impact. Harris is fundraising approximately $40,000 as a starting point and is exploring various funding sources, including grants and partnerships with benevolent individuals.
Justin Sweeney, a financial consultant advising the initiative, highlighted the need for public funding to support affordable housing projects. “The government’s going to spend the money one way or another. They’re either going to spend it on housing or people who aren’t housed to try to solve problems,” he said.
The Vacant to Vibrant initiative demonstrates the potential of repurposing vacant buildings as affordable housing solutions. By addressing the challenges of securing financing and identifying property owners, the project aims to create a positive impact on the Saint John community and provide much-needed shelter for those in need.
