Pre-construction for Cape Breton housing project at former Tartan Downs site to begin

Work at a former harness-racing track in Sydney is expected to resume this week in preparation for a new housing development.

The Urban Neighbourhood Development Association announced Friday that a local fencing company will soon be installing perimeter fencing around a 12-acre section of the former Tartan Downs raceway.

Cape Breton University purchased the 24-acre site off Upper Prince Street in 2019 and partnered with the Urban Neighbourhood Development Association to develop a mixed-income housing community with 67 townhouses and two 39-unit apartment buildings, as well as new public streets and water, sewer and storm infrastructure.

“This is another positive step forward for Tartan Downs and a visible sign of the progress being made to bring this important development to life,” Urban Neighbourhood Development Association president Kent MacIntyre said in a media release.

“Earlier this year, we completed site grading and elevation work, installed water and sewer lines, carried out perimeter ditching and established the preliminary street alignments. Some of the next steps include installation of temporary power and set-up of construction trailers at the site.”

The project has received funding from all levels of government — including $5 million from the province in 2022 and $5.4 from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality via the federal government in 2024.

In March 2025, CBU received $17.1 million through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to support new water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure at the Tartan Downs project, as well as second project to supply drinking water for CBU’s campus and 200 new housing units in the Tanglewood subdivision.

According to the release, further details on the Tartan Downs development — including project partners, funding arrangements and construction timelines — will be shared as part of a detailed public announcement in the coming weeks.