Canadian Cold War nuclear bunker to be converted into 50 luxury apartments

en.Wedoany.com Reported - A Cold War-era nuclear bunker in Debert, Nova Scotia, Canada, is being transformed into a luxury apartment community. Located within a former military base, the project is led by Canadian cryptocurrency entrepreneur Jonathan Bahai, targeting millionaires seeking protection from hurricanes, power outages, and extreme events. According to the BBC, the bunker, covering nearly 6,000 square meters and locally known as the "Diefenbunker," is planned to be a complex of 50 apartments. Eleven units have already been sold, but the purchase prices and short-term accommodation costs have not been disclosed.

Built between the late 1950s and mid-1960s under the order of former Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, the bunker was one of seven shelters nationwide, originally designed to accommodate 329 people for at least 30 days in the event of nuclear war. As long-range missile technology advanced and nuclear weapons became more powerful, its strategic utility declined. It was later converted into a provincial emergency alert center and closed in 1996 due to cost-cutting measures. Bahai purchased it in 2013 for 31,300 Canadian dollars (approximately 20,000 euros). Before proceeding with the apartment project, Bahai explored various uses for the space, including laser tag, historical tours, and small data centers.

Paul Mansfield, one of the project leaders, told local government: "The uncertainty in the world over the past two years has been greater than in the previous 30 years." He believes this feeling drives more people to seek an "insurance policy"—a bunker for extreme situations. Bahai, however, rejects the term "doomsday bunker," preferring to describe it as a practical solution for emergencies like storms and power failures. When Hurricane Fiona struck Nova Scotia in 2022, he opened the bunker to employees and their families, assuring that the complex is fully off-grid and self-sufficient.

Apartment amenities include meals from self-sufficient food sources, biometric entry control, 24/7 surveillance, and on-site medical assistance. The project also plans to build a spa, yoga room, and a dedicated cigar space, using modern OLED lighting systems to simulate natural light. An additional bunker on the ground level will be used for food cultivation. When owners are absent, apartments can be rented out as hotel rooms with revenue sharing, but with a special rule: if an emergency occurs while a unit is occupied by a guest, the guest must vacate for the owner to enter. Mansfield explained to the BBC: "If someone is using it as a hotel room and something happens, they have to be asked to leave."

Security is handled by German company Bespoke Home and Yacht Security. Mansfield claimed the company has served U.S. Vice President JD Vance and TV star Kim Kardashian, but the client list has not been disclosed, and the claim cannot be independently verified. Security measures include drones for monitoring the complex's perimeter. The project also plans to expand the data center to about 1,400 square meters, which, according to Bahai, will use technology aimed at reducing energy consumption and enhancing information storage protection. The project estimates that the development could create over 40 jobs in the hotel sector, with specialized positions in the data center also prioritizing local workers.

The community has mixed reactions to the project. Annette Sharpe, secretary of the Debert Military Museum, expressed regret over the historic site being converted to private use. City councilor Mary Benoit questioned whether the prices are affordable for local residents. However, the town mayor described the project as "original and unique," and some business owners, such as Fadi Farah, owner of Angelina's Pizza, look forward to the new complex bringing tourists to the area.

Globally, disaster preparedness has spawned an industry. According to estimates cited by the BBC, the U.S. industry is worth at least $500 million, with 20 to 70 million Americans stockpiling supplies for various emergencies. Some former military facilities are being converted into private communities; for example, a former U.S. Air Force base has become a "survivalist gated community," and a former missile silo in Kansas has been transformed into underground luxury apartments. In Canada, other similar bunkers have met different fates: one in Ontario remains closed, one in Manitoba was buried, one in British Columbia was deliberately flooded, and one in Alberta was demolished due to fears of being purchased by the "Hells Angels." Currently, maintaining the Debert bunker costs about 37,000 euros per year. According to estimates cited by the BBC, a similar bunker built in Nanaimo would cost approximately 19 to 28 million euros today, based on equivalent value.