If Haligonians were told six acres of Halifax Common was set aside for a bus terminal, how would they react? Could it happen in Halifax? Unlikely. Here’s how it happened in Dartmouth.
In November 2008 the legislature passed the 160-page Bill 179. Slipped into the bill in Section 66 (5) they gave six acres of the Dartmouth Common to Metro Transit. We gave the province jurisdiction over our Common to protect it against encroachment. Ironically, when they gave it back they sliced off six more acres.
In the March 11 issue, I was quoted saying, “This is a fait accompli.” I don’t think it is! Metro Transit told us it was a fait accompli when they introduced the plans. At public meetings, distraught citizens lined up to protest. We want our transit system improved, but taking the Common from its citizens without consultation is poor governance. It’s an unfair position to put them in. We want to discuss alternative locations and plans.
The most common argument is “Look at the Wilderness Park. It’s a dangerous blight. You don’t take care of it.” I agree, it isn’t taken care of, and maybe it is unsustainable in its current state. Downtown woods are rare and problematic. But what could six acres of park land between the Sportsplex and high school be? How about a sports field, a track, a skate park, a community garden, a playground, a picnic area or an outdoor classroom—all with a view of our city’s harbour?
It wasn’t public consultation that changed the terminal’s orientation. It was an engineering decision. To say it’s a result of consultation, is like saying the people of Africville were consulted, and they prefer to be relocated downtown rather than out to the suburbs. It’s misleading, and so are the Dartmouth Common Master Plans of 1977, 1990 and 2010. They are public appeasement strategies, they are a master scam and they cost taxpayers thousands in consultation fees.
This moment in time is an important juncture for downtown Dartmouth. Dartmouth High is being renovated, the Sportsplex is expanding, the waterfront is developing and a new terminal is being built. Maybe one day, people from Halifax will catch the bus over to Dartmouth to visit our Common and we’ll discuss new issues that challenge our city together, overlooking our harbour.
But we need the help of Haligonians now! Dartmouth’s identity is at stake and we love Dartmouth (and we love Metro Transit too). —Mike Cosgrove, Dartmouth
This article appears in Mar 18-24, 2010.
Public land should be used for the “public”. A transit terminal is for the “public”. This is good use of public land for a change. Perhaps there was no consultation but it appears in this case the end justify the means.
dar . . . Why not put a bus terminal on the Halifax Common? That’s public too. More important though, it’s bad planning. Paving 6 acres of downtown green space is unheard of. Are you willing to look at alternatives?
dar – go and look at a map of the original Dartmouth Common and the see how much open space is left for people who just want to walk, run, play, sit on grass. Quite soon their will be nothing left other than the piece between Thistle and Park Avenue.
If they want the land for a bus terminal then I like the idea of HRM buying the Dawson/Faulkner lands and giving it back as original common land, could have a nice park for kids.
Then wander over to look at the original map of the Halifax Common.
Pretty soon your council will have no more ‘free’ land to build on.
I don’t agree DAR
THe amount of people crossing the street from the strip mall to the Bus terminal is already a traffic hazzard.
Tear down the Esso station & put the Bus station back where it used to be.
That right, it used to be across the street & shared the parking lot with the strip mall (which was bigger back then !)
THeres more than enough space at the bottom of that parking lot, IF you remove the gas station & its already paved. so no green space needs to be plowed under !
Another Plus… 10,000 of the 17,000+/- that use the terminal now, won’t have to cross 4 lanes of traffic, so traffic will then move smoother.
Or if you’ve really got your heart set on that side of the street, get rid of the Scotia Bank & insert ugly terminal in that space which would incorperate the space being used now & that large lot !