Co-living project could bring new affordable option to Halifax

We look at an initiative to turn empty office space into affordable co-living housing for young people.

Young people looking for affordable living in Halifax could soon have a new option.

Robert Barnard is a Canadian entrepreneur who converts vacant office spaces into co-living living spaces through his company Toboggan Flats. He participated in Halifax’s Art of City Building Conference on September 13 and 14.

“We were there talking about Toboggan Flats,” Barnard said. “But we were really there talking about, how do we create housing that actually is all about wellness?”

Young people are the loneliest sub-group in the Canadian population and they face an affordability crisis, Barnard said. He said Toboggan wants to bring affordable co-living to Canadian cities.

The dorm-style facilities help people build new social connections after losing them during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Barnard.

“It even saves the environment. When you share resources it’s actually a great way to live. You create friends.”

Barnard said Halifax is a beautiful city but it isn’t affordable and there is a 14 per cent vacancy in office buildings.

“If you can take the office space, which is empty and losing money for the owners, and turn it into housing in an affordable way, you can actually bring more young people downtown.”

Toboggan Flats’ designs offer residents a safe, comfortable, private room with shared facilities like the kitchen.

“You get learn from other people. You get to make those connections which is so important.”

Barnard said they’ve talked to the downtown business association, chamber of commerce and city councillors who attended the conference and they are looking for a building. He said it’s one of the fastest ways to build housing.

“Everyone’s keen to get this kind of housing into Halifax,” he said. “The great thing about converting an officer space is that it’s already built.”

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