The board of the Passamaquoddy Lodge is asking the town to assist it in the development of affordable housing for staff at the nursing home. 

Caroline Davies presented on behalf of the board to ask the town to widen the lane leading to the property donated by locals Sue and Vern Lister, but also some financial and zoning assistance. 

The lodge was able to hire three registered nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they couldn’t find affordable housing, Davies explained. 

“They all either had to quit or not accept the job,” she said to the council. 

Davies said they conducted research, in conjunction with the Southwest Regional Service Commission, on market rents in New Brunswick – and much of Saint Andrews’ rental housing is above it. 

The definition of affordable housing is 30 per cent of an individual’s gross income, according to the Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CHMC). 

“We were very lucky to be offered the donation of land,” she said, thanking Sue and Vern Lister. 

The plan is to build, hopefully with the help of the New Brunswick Housing Corporation and CMHC, eight units in total. 

Six were allotted for staff from the lodge and four were available to seniors wishing to live more independently. 

Sue Lister, one of the donors of the land behind her beloved Picket Fence Motel, said the Passamaquoddy Lodge Foundation has been working toward the project for about four years.

They donated about 1.6 acres of land. 

“We just said we’re not using that back property and we have no plans to expand, so let’s see if we can do something,” she said. 

The two were complimented by former mayor Brad Henderson for their continued contribution to the community, but Lister said “that isn’t why they did it.” 

“We do it because we see the need,” she said. 

Davies, meanwhile, said they have been working with the New Brunswick Housing Corporation and the Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation as funding sources to build those units. 

“We looked at a number of models,” she said during the meeting, adding they settled on a townhouse-style model. “Five units in each of them, two houses,” she said. 

One of the units, Davies explained, would be barrier-free, while making the others as accessible as possible. 

She said this housing would support one of the largest year-round employers in Saint Andrews. It will bring in more tax base, but also spending in the town. The housing would also allow seniors to remain in their community. 

The foundation is seeking assistance in the cost of rezoning the property that’s been donated, widening the access road, and some financial assistance. 

Davies said the property is currently zoned as tourist commercial but will need to be rezoned to a multi-residential one. 

Saint Andrews council has funded affordable housing before – with a private developer – on Compass Housing for about $500,000. 

The current road is private, leading to the Ambulance New Brunswick depot, and the foundation has asked the council to make it public.

She said eight per cent of the land could be used to connect the town’s trail system. 

Chief Administrative Officer Chris Spear said he believes the road would need to be widened and said the staff would work toward giving an estimate on the cost to widen it. 

Coun. Annette Harland asked whether they could expand the timeline for the project. 

“We’re hoping to get all the technical aspects, lands transferred, by the end of this calendar year,” Davies said. “We wouldn’t be looking to build until next year.” 

The Courier reached out to the Passmaquoddy Lodge Foundation by phone and email and is awaiting a response.