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Canada: Coliving developer Toboggan Flats has launched in Halifax, Nova Scotia, brining new affordable living options for young professionals.
By converting vacant office spaced into coliving units, Toboggan Flats’ designs aim to offer residents a safe, comfortable, private room with shared facilities.
Co-founder Robert Barnard took part in Halifax’s Art of City Building Conference on September 13 and 14, where he talked about the state of the city, which sees 14 per cent vacancy in office buildings.
The project aims to solve two crises that affect young people in Canada: loneliness and affordability.
Speaking about coliving solutions, Barnard said: “It even saves the environment. When you share resources it’s actually a great way to live. You create friends.”
“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.”
“Everyone’s keen to get this kind of housing into Halifax. The great thing about converting an officer space is that it’s already built,” he added.
Highlights:
- Toboggan Flats plans to convert vacant Halifax office buildings into affordable coliving spaces for young adults.
- The model emphasises wellness, social connection, and shared facilities while maintaining private rooms.
- Halifax’s 14 per cent office vacancy presents an opportunity to create housing in the city’s downtown.
