At the regular council meeting for the month of January 2023, Saint Andrews Town Council gave local developer Compass Housing the green light to proceed with the construction of an affordable 42-unit housing project on Mowat Drive at the former location of the Blue Moon Motel. The building, which will be called The Compass, will include 36 two-bedroom units and 6 one-bedroom units ranging in price from $800 to $1200 per month. The town will also provide a $500,000 development grant to Compass Housing to ensure these rental rates are locked in place for the next 15 years.

"This is by far the largest investment by the town in affordable housing. The $500,000 will be recuperated through tax revenue over the next 10 years. Even after this development is paid back, we are going to have affordable housing in the community for years to come," said Mayor Brad Henderson.

Compass Housing has a track record of successful local housing units, including the 37-unit Anchors Landing building in Saint Andrews and the Beacon, a 50-unit St. Stephen building. If all goes according to plan, shovels will be in the ground in 2023 potentially in early spring. 

"No one is going to come to town and fix the housing situation for us. We have to do it ourselves," said Henderson about his council taking a proactive approach to addressing the housing crisis. 

Plans for Compass Housing comes at a time when the housing crisis has become even more critical in St. Andrews. A recent survey by the Southwest Service Commission found that there is only about two units being available at the current moment in town. 

"If you are having trouble finding housing in Saint Andrews, there is no reason to be excited that things are going to change," said Henderson.