Hope Blooms struggles to find affordable north end space

A north-end Halifax non-profit is feeling the crunch of the neighbourhood’s real estate boom.

Jessie Jollymore leads Hope Blooms, a group of young entrepreneurs that run a community garden and greenhouse in the north end.

She says the neighbourhood’s recent development surge has a dark side.

“Properties here are in higher demand, so … it’s affected people being able to afford places to be in,” said Jollymore.

“We’re in a bit of a crisis right now.”

Jollymore says Hope Blooms borrows space from other groups in the neighbourhood.

Right now they’re operating out of the north end branch of the Halifax library, but that deal runs out at the end of August.

Area councillor Jennifer Watts says the real estate boom has been an overall positive for the north end, “But as prices go up, it makes it really difficult to find that healthy balance of a mixture of business and opportunities.”

Watts hopes Hope Blooms can find a permanent home in the St. Pat’s Alexandra School, if council votes not to sell the property.

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