Affordable, sustainable housing in Tantramar.
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Freshwinds Eco-Village Housing Co-operative is a community-based, non-profit enterprise made up of people in Tantramar, New Brunswick, inspired by a vision of affordable housing that is sustainable, and that honours equity, diversity, and inclusion for future generations.
Founded in 2023, it is our hope that we can build 60 housing units on our property located on Fairfield Road, beginning as early as 2025. We are planning to build a combination of 3-storey apartments and townhome-style buildings, connected by lanes and pathways. There will be 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom units. Some will be barrier-free (i.e. all on one level, with room for a wheelchair) and some will be subsidized for qualified low-income residents.
We are currently accepting names onto our wait-list of people interested in eventually moving in. If you’d like to be included, please email us at info@freshwindscooperative.ca and let us know your name, contact information, size of desired unit and any other important information (e.g. I need a barrier-free unit).
If you would simply like to stay informed, and receive updates as they are available, please email us at info@freshwindscooperative.ca, and ask to get onto our emailing list.
Member-owned non-profit co-operative
A housing co-operative provides homes where the tenants are members, so they not only pay rent, they also take part in managing the buildings as owners. Monthly rents never increase beyond what is actually needed to sustain the buildings, and all decisions are made by the members.
It is important to us that Freshwinds is a co-operative. Co-operatives have ethical values and principles that ensure fairness and inclusion for all members, and care for each other and the community.
The co-operative owns the property, and no individual can gain personal wealth as a result of co-op membership. We expect that everyone in our village will share in a number of ways together–outdoor spaces, gardens, tools, possibly transportation. Sharing will be important for those wishing to live here–we recognize that this is not for everyone!
Affordable Housing
Freshwinds plans to build a good proportion (aiming for 25%) of affordable units, meaning that monthly occupancy costs for 25% of lower-income members will not exceed 30% of their household income. To qualify for these units, we will have a relationship with the province’s Department of Social Development, and this department will play a role with us in deciding who will live here. Then, the province will pay the balance of costs for these members’ units.
Freshwinds also plans to build several units that are barrier-free. This means that someone with physical needs (e.g., cannot do stairs, may need a walker or wheelchair) will have options to live here as well.
For most members, the units will initially cost what it would usually cost for a new local apartment or townhouse of that size, however costs to live here will increase thereafter only in relation to actual costs (utilities, repairs etc.), rather than due to growth in the housing market.
Prioritizing Sustainability
Building for sustainability has 2 huge benefits:
- It is good for the environment. Sustainable buildings use less energy than other types of buildings, and so contribute less to climate change.
- It keeps occupancy costs lower for members who live here. For example, if your cost to keep warm in the winter is only minimally affected by the price of oil or electricity, you won’t be faced with such skyrocketing expenses.
We plan to build buildings that are energy-efficient, which means that they are
- well-insulated against the cold of winter and the heat of summer, and
- heated and cooled using mostly renewable energy sources like solar and geothermal
We plan to have vegetable and flower gardens, and trails through the property, so that members have opportunities to improve their health and well being outdoors. Perhaps we will also have backyard hens, to contribute to the diets of members.
It is our hope to develop ways to share regarding the expensive things to own or to maintain. For example we could share cars and bicycles. We could also share spaces that we use only intermittently, like workshops, exercise rooms, and/or music practice rooms.
Once we have finalized our plans, we will share them with others.
LOOKING FOR HOUSING?
Our plans are not yet secured. If all of our work goes as hoped, we may begin breaking ground in mid-2025.
Once we know what we will be able to build (we are applying for government subsidies and incentives, so that our costs are lowered), we will issue a call for membership applications, beginning with those on our wait-list.
If you’d like to be on our wait-list or our email list to be among the first to receive updates, please email your name, address, phone number, and number of people in your household unit or family to:
We will email you with more information as soon as we can.
I want to become a Member
We are still in the planning and development phase of our project, and so are not seeking new members at this time. Please email us if you’d like to receive updates by email, as they are available.
I want to become involved
If you have skills that would be helpful in the planning and development phase of this project, please email us to let us know. Tell us your name, your skills and your experience, If we need assistance in that area, we will be in touch.
Our only contact is through email. Please use the link above.