Port Hawkesbury embracing development 'with open arms' as commercial assessment jumps

A small Cape Breton town, dependent for decades on heavy industry in neighbouring communities, is seeing its commercial assessment rise after years of decline.

While some in Port Hawkesbury consider this a positive sign, there are also calls for the town to do more to revitalize its business district and sense of community.

Town council recently approved a municipal budget that avoided residential and commercial tax hikes while recording an eight per cent jump in commercial assessment.

The budget also lays out a capital spending plan of $12.6 million for the coming year, with sidewalks and paved active-transportation trails as one of council's priorities.

These efforts got a boost earlier this week when Nova Scotia's Municipal Capital Growth Fund kicked in nearly $800,000 to support the construction and repair of 1.4 kilometres of Port Hawkesbury sidewalks. The town will also spend close to $400,000 of its own money on this project.

But as new funding for sidewalks arrives, Ashley Taylor would rather see the sidewalks filled with shops.

She's owned and operated Cutting Edge Studio and Boutique at the Port Hawkesbury Shopping Centre for the past nine years. She notes that the majority of her customers are from outside of the town.

Taylor said this factor, and a lack of imagination among town officials and small business owners, have prevented Port Hawkesbury from developing a thriving business district found in towns like Mulgrave and Antigonish, and particularly in the village of St. Peter's.

"St. Peter's has a whole street with a bunch of local businesses that are 100 per cent supported by their own …They have a boutique, they have a flower shop, they have a coffee shop," said Taylor.

"We're a drive-through town ... In St. Peter's, they'll go out for the day, but they'll stay on their own street, they'll stay in their community."

What's fuelling economic growth?

John Ouellette, past president of the Strait Area Chamber of Commerce, is pleased with the rise in commercial assessment and feels the town is ready to capitalize on the green hydrogen development in nearby Point Tupper.

"The excitement and energy around the industrial base is another piece of the puzzle," said Ouellette.

"And some of the longtime drivers of the economy, like the [Port Hawkesbury Paper] mill, that just continues to be happening."

Ouellette also credits recent growth to an influx of international students, both at the Nova Scotia Community College Strait Area Campus in Port Hawkesbury and a handful of students who commute from the town to Sydney to attend Cape Breton University. 

However, Ouellette feels housing is critical for these new Port Hawkesbury residents as well as those who have been hired by businesses to fill out their employee rosters. To that end, the chamber is establishing a non-profit co-operative that will look specifically at the Strait area's housing needs. 

Mayor remains optimistic 

Brenda Chisholm-Beaton, mayor of Port Hawkesbury, said the finished active-transportation trail projects are already a hit with locals and visitors. She said the replacement of a waterfront boardwalk with an accessible paved route is so popular that "even in the rain, people are walking on it."

"Our desire is to be a very connected, accessible and walkable town," the mayor said.

Chisholm-Beaton is hopeful the freeze on residential and commercial tax rates will continue to encourage development in the town. 

She notes that the commercial rate of $4.16 per $100 of assessment hasn't changed "since Dirty Dancing was in theatres" — specifically, in 1987 — and adds that the town will do all it can to keep it that way. 

The mayor also points to Port Hawkesbury's official slogan as she and her town council look ahead to the future.

"Our sort of catchphrase is 'Opportunities Await' — but we're not waiting," said Chisholm-Beaton with a smile. "We're welcoming with open arms."