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A small victory for Benny Farm For eight years, NDG community groups have battled many government agencies over the future of the Benny Farm veterans' housing project. That bitter fight may finally be coming to an end. The NDG Community Council has reached an agreement with the Canada Lands Corporation, the government agency that now manages the site, to do a feasibility study on renovation costs and future land use, and to search for potential funding sources. "We're hoping there will finally be an open discussion about what to build on that site," says Council coordinator Jason Hughes. The previous managers--the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation--had ignored all community input, planning to demolish the whole site and turn it into condos, high-rent units, family townhouses and seniors' residences. A partial demolition took place last November. "When we met Canada Lands, we told them this was about building something that responds to community needs," Hughes says. Those needs include housing for low-income people and seniors, as well as affordable homes for working families. Hughes has been assured there will be no further demolition until the feasibility study is completed. After the two-month contract is up, he says, "we'll continue and hopefully work with them some more." --Wayne Hiltz
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