I know this isn’t a ‘bitch’, but I really need some good honest opinions here. I visited this town once last year. Some good, some bad, some downright shithole locations, but I thought the people were friendly, it’s right by the ocean, and it had great atmosphere. I could be wrong, so I need ya guys. Peace.
—Potential Haligonian
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 3, 2009.
Depends what you want – city or a piece of paradise on the outskirts. The Prospect area is very scenic and a 20-25 minute drive to town which is squat if you come from a big city. I prefer the outskirts myself simply because the relatively safe Halifax of my youth imploded and there’s a lot more crime.
Having grown up near Prospect, I’m inclined to agree with TTFN. Anywhere along the lighthouse route is nice, really.
Very pretty area.
Yeah, stay away from the city core… all of them. The farmers are nice.
I love living downtown…especially working downtown…walking to work in 10 minutes kicks ass…maybe look for places closer to south st than north st. if your gunna look downtown.
Check out Sc, I mean Fairview.
If you dont want to live right downtown where there are a few shithole locations, check out Bedford or Sackville (10-20mins from downtown depending on where you choose)! They have good neighborhoods, close to schools and are directly on bus routes that feed into the downtown.
I don’t care what anyone says, Spryfield is a great place to live…I wish I was still living there. There’s some new housing developments being built off the main road near Kidston Lake. But if it’s water and/or space you want check out the Herring Cove to Sambro stretch. I go to Crystal Crescent Beach every summer along that road and every year I see more land for sale.
I recomend the scenic Gottigen st trail, from north to south. The magesty of Uniake square might draw your interest with its rich local culture and central location.
I love the north end of Halifax (Robie/Lady Hammond and surrounding areas). It’s relatively quiet and there’s a good community feeling. The only thing that kinda sucks is the bus service. Still, you’re away from the noise and traffic of downtown, but can catch a cab home after a few drinks for about $10.
Halifax is good if currently live in Baghdad or Lahore, otherwise probably best to give it the ole body swerve.
Retiring in rural Nova Scotia would be the reason to relocate. Otherwise mistake.
I love the snobby comments about uniake square, or the north end. obviosly written by rich pricks who are afraid to get out of there lexus’s unless they are in bedford or the (deep) south end. yes black people live on gottigen, no were not gonna rob you.
The place srtinks of human shit and the government here is a-okay with that (they’d rather build libraries with all the money that falls out of the sky). They’ve been dumping untreated sewage into the harbour for decades. Stay away from the HRM proper and you’ll like it here a lot more.
Rafiki- Funny you mention it I had to get out of my lexus today to get an oil change…Jiffy Lube next time i guess.
Really though I wasnt infering anything about the demographics of Uniake square. I was just saying that the a high crime ,drug,and prostitution rate.
How you connect it to race is your own opinion, I think its just coincidental myself. but I guess rednecks like yourself will never get with the program. Come on Rafiki its 2009 lets forget these old fashioned attitudes…LOL
Sham..out
I love it here! I have a good job, live in a great lakefront house half-hour from downtown which cost about the same as a starter home in other parts of Canada, kids have all the amenities they need, wonderful restaurants/bars/cultural scene etc.
Although…I have to say I am EMBARRESSED by the sewage situation (and WILL be sharing my concerns with HRM, HRWC and anyone else that I think of).
Forget the Parade of Sale – we should have a Parade of Tampon Tubes with Mr. Hanky as the mascot.
I was born and raised in Halifax, and am back after a few years elsewhere. Honestly, I think the city is a conservative, boring shit hole with shit weather. Our mayor is an embrassment and the place remains virtually unchanged. Great place for retirees, but otherwise, stay away. B-O-R-I-N-G!!!!
I really like Halifax, having lived in BC and Ontario for extended periods of time I’ve settled here. The weather isn’t always the greatest and it does have a touch of a small town mind set but that can have its perks too being slower paced.
The city itself is small however I think it has a very nifty metropolis feel to it. I don’t know what it is, but I think Halifax has this magical little spark. Great market, theatre, for such a small city we get some musical giants here aaand we managed to stave off Celine. Way-to-go Halifax! Just my preference, no offence Celine lovers. Did I mention the tons of waterfont? I agree with TTFN, Prospect area is great. Personally I think it’s Canada’s best kept secret. Funny thing, I just had two friends visit me from BC who have very good paying jobs and they still can’t afford a house there. My partner and I probably make half of what they do. They were so impressed that we had a whole two acres. They went on about how last year they went to Tofino for vacation. Two hour ferry ride and something like 3 hrs in the car and an hour hike and finally, they found a beach that was secluded. Then I take them on a five minute drive to a spectacular secluded hike along the ocean. Reminds me of just how much I like it here. I could go on about how life is what you make it bla bla bla and if you’re miserable, bored or whatever that is because of choices you have made bla bla bla, but I won’t. I’m not a retiree and I do enjoy it here.
I love crystal crescent beach Fizz!!!
Halifax is ok, but it’s kind of boring.
I’m in Clayton Park West and it’s a pretty nice neighbourhood: you can get a lot of house/apartment here for not a lot of $$$ in comparison to downtown areas and it’s close to everything you need (especially big box stores in Bayers Lake — walking distance, in fact), and it’s 5-10 minutes away from down town with a decent rush hour bussing system (20-30 minutes via bus to downtown). My apartment here is $1000/mo including utilities and parking….downtown it would be at least $1800+ not including parking (MAYBE partial utilities)…just something to think about.
I *will* agree that Halifax in general (and really, NS in general) is conservative as shit, so if you’re not really into the “stick-up-your-arse” mentality, stay away!
Halifax is ok, but it’s kind of boring.
I’m in Clayton Park West and it’s a pretty nice neighbourhood: you can get a lot of house/apartment here for not a lot of $$$ in comparison to downtown areas and it’s close to everything you need (especially big box stores in Bayers Lake — walking distance, in fact), and it’s 5-10 minutes away from down town with a decent rush hour bussing system (20-30 minutes via bus to downtown). My apartment here is $1000/mo including utilities and parking….downtown it would be at least $1800+ not including parking (MAYBE partial utilities)…just something to think about.
I *will* agree that Halifax in general (and really, NS in general) is conservative as shit, so if you’re not really into the “stick-up-your-arse” mentality, stay away!
halifax is great. you can take a dump in the harbour. throw your garbage and cig butts on the ground, and dodge around homeless losers on spring garden. yeah, great freaking city. vancouver is better.
Don’t do it. I moved here from BC last year and I was the worst mistake I ever made. The cost of housing may me cheaper but the oil, hydro and basic cost of living is twice the price of BC or anywhere west of QC. You will not be better off out here. Also I could give you a list thats a mile long on the unfortunate things that may occur to you while you are here. BTW, The weather is the shits as well.