The old Milton elementary school is getting new life as a home for older residents.

It is important for developer Eric Gouldon to create units that are well-built, accessible and modern.

“You shouldn’t have low-end housing or something like that. Everybody deserves a good house,” said Gouldon. “I think these are good houses.”

While not specifically for seniors, Gouldon designed the units both with accessibility and privacy in mind. In addition to including all major appliances and laundry in each unit, electrical outlets and light switches have been placed within easy reach, doorways have been widened and kitchen faucets have been placed on the side so residents don’t need to strain to turn them on and off.

Renovated and landscaped Milton Elementary School now, the Milton Garden Homes. Photo credit Ed Halverson

“A lot of them are seniors that have had homes all their life. The kids have moved out, sometimes the husband has passed on. It seems like there are a lot of women involved in this and we just basically looked at that and said, they’re not quite ready for the apartment, they like their independence,” said Gouldon. “So we cut in individual doors, so it’s quite literally town homes rather than apartments that you’re looking at.”

Gouldon began renovating the former school in phases four years ago. Each phase created three new units and all six of the units built

Former classroom being readied for a transformation into a new apartment. Photo by Ed Halverson.

under the first two phases are already occupied.

While he has roots in Shelburne County, Gouldon spent most of his working life in Ontario. In fact, it was a bit of luck that brought him to Queens.

“I was going to buy a condo in Halifax and I saw a Brian MacKay-Lyons house for sale down this way and Liverpool wasn’t even on the plan at that time. We looked at the house. It was on the beach. I think we looked at it at 10:00 in the morning, we put a deal together at noon,” said Gouldon.

It was after buying that house Gouldon met Steve Bowers, who was looking after the home and would later become his business partner.

Bowers had experience renovating older buildings and convinced Gouldon to become involved in restoring the old Advance building on Main street in Liverpool in 2013.

When they bought the former Advance offices and the adjacent building, which housed the KFC, Gouldon and Bowers were told they would likely have to be torn down.

Undeterred, the two set about restoring and bringing the buildings up to modern standards.

Gouldon and Bowers restored these two buildings on Liverpool's Main Street. Photo by Ed Halverson.

Gouldon says he is inspired by Bowers’ ability to look at a problem and work out a solution, a trait he says is shared by many Nova Scotians.

“People may not necessarily have paper credentials,’ said Gouldon. “But there’s a great ability among the fishermen and people that live along the shore and everywhere else in Nova Scotia, to be able to get things done.”

Gouldon says it’s that unique combination of people, skills and attitude that have helped shape his perspective on these redevelopments.

“This place is full of craftspeople. It’s full of art. I think the development of schools and so on and so forth is just an extension of art,” said Gouldon.

The final third phase of the Milton school development will begin in the next month. Provided the pandemic hasn’t interrupted the supply lines for building materials too drastically, Gouldon hopes to see the project finished this fall.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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