Town officials are taking an innovative approach to try and meet the needs of first-time homebuyers in the community.
The town recently awarded a $22,000 contract to a Nova Scotia marketing firm for the development of a feasibility study and a business case that will set out ways the municipality can expand its housing stock to make it more affordable for new buyers.
“We’re not meeting all of our housing needs in Sackville so something needed to be done,” said Coun. Merrill Fullerton during council’s regular meeting last month.
Fullerton said the company hired for the first-time homebuyers project – Stonehouse Marketing Group of Shubenacadie, N.S.– will conduct research and put together a business model that will include a selling package featuring possible site plans and housing types. As well, the firm will scope out potential partners who would consider developing attainable housing in Sackville.
“This is the first of its kind in New Brunswick . . . so we’re treading new ground here,” he said.
Fullerton explained that putting together this “turn-key document” to present to developers will allow the town to maintain some control over future development, by providing a vision for future housing needs.
The idea behind expanding Sackville’s housing supply to include more affordable homes for first-time buyers was one of the key recommendations set out in a housing study conducted for the town last year by David Bruce, director of the Rural and Small Town Programme at Mount Allison University.
“So this is one way we’re putting this data into action,” said Fullerton. “And hopefully this will help people make that transition from renting to housing.”
