New Housing Co-op Aims to Offer Affordable Living for Artists

A unique mixed-use development in the North End seeks to balance affordability with creative space.

June 20, 2025 at 00:43 | By Charlotte Doyle, Prairie Signal

A new housing cooperative is taking shape in Halifax’s North End, designed specifically to provide affordable living and creative space for local artists. The initiative, dubbed The Canvas Commons, aims to address both the housing crunch and the lack of accessible studio space faced by the city’s growing creative community.

Backed by a mix of provincial grants, federal housing funds, and crowdfunding campaigns, the development will include 24 residential units and shared workshop spaces, gallery rooms, and rooftop gardens. Rent will be capped at 30% of tenants’ income, with priority given to practicing artists and low-income creatives.

The project is led by ArtNova Co-op, a nonprofit formed by a coalition of artists, architects, and urban planners. 'This isn’t just about putting a roof over someone’s head—it’s about nurturing culture and supporting the people who help make Halifax vibrant,' said co-founder Ezra Bell.

The North End has long been a hub for Halifax’s creative scene, but rising rents and redevelopment have displaced many artists and small studios. The Canvas Commons seeks to reverse that trend by embedding artistic sustainability into the housing equation.

Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026 on a vacant lot near Agricola Street, with completion targeted for the following year. The building will be environmentally certified and include energy-efficient systems designed by a local green architecture firm.

Community engagement has been central to the project’s design, with input sessions shaping everything from unit layouts to the inclusion of soundproofed rehearsal rooms. City officials hope the project could serve as a model for similar developments across Nova Scotia.