To the editor,
The new thinking by Halifax planners is to increase the height limit for building in downtown Halifax and curtail public participation in decisions.
I am involved with Nova Scotia Heritage Trust and believe these buildings, as the oldest in English Canada, mark Halifax as unique.
There are many options for high-rises not in the midst of heritage—north of the core, on approved sites, on vacant land.
HRM planning is trying to attract developers with choice locations on or near the water, where heritage properties are located.
Are there credible studies indicating destroying heritage will attract businesses, or that new buildings attract new businesses?
Are there people, other than staff planners and developers, who think this move is absolutely necessary? Have outside consultants been extensively consulted? The people I have heard from so far are largely spin doctors with packaged messages that are slick, but not very convincing.
Halifax planners are playing with our future. HRM by Design is taking a major gamble with our commitment to this city.
By —Peter McCurdy
This article appears in Nov 20-26, 2008.
This constant B.S. about the ‘value’ of older buildings in Halifax has given us that garbage facade on Barrington Street , The Rats warren that is the old Arts college. All of this makes me wish that we were more prone to EarthQuakes in this region. That way we would be rid of the so called ‘historical’ buildings around here.Unfortunately the same people screaming about “their rights” to be surrounded by useless old buildings ,being somehow more important than the owners of the property, having any rights at all. Would probably have them form a coalitiojn to PROTECT THE RUBBLE !”please God’s…any of you . just give us one big powerful Penninsula Shake up…say a 3.5 to 4. Oh, & give us a couple of days with some nice after shockes of 2+ or so. That ought to help level anything that’s in too high a pile. Here’s me thanking you in advance & a small PS, could you see your way clear to leveling Citadel Hill as well, we need more parking in the downtown zone. Thanks.