[Image-1] “The challenge is, as a mayor, you want to focus on big issues,” says Mike Savage of his past four years. It’s a difficult role—to act as a figure head and authority on an entire municipality. “I was a member of parliament for three terms, and nobody really ever called me up to ask […]
City Council
Posted inNews + Opinion
Electric buses could be coming to Halifax
[Image-1] A staff report heading to next week’s meeting of Regional Council is recommending HRM work with Nova Scotia Power to study putting electric buses on the city’s roads. If approved, NS Power would put $10,000 towards a $50,000 feasibility study on the idea. The federal government has already promised HRM it will fund half […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
The race for Waverley—Fall River—Musquodoboit Valley
[Image-1] It takes nearly two hours to drive fully across District 1, making the open race for Waverley—Fall River—Musquodoboit Valley more of a marathon than a sprint. The six candidates battling it out will have to decide between canvassing for voters in the area’s concentrated suburban centers, or visiting the spread-out, often ignored rural communities […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
15 questions with District 5 candidate Ned Milburn
[Image-1] The Coast sent all 53 candidates running in HRM’s municipal election the same 15-question survey in order to help their residents and our readers know a little more about who’s running for council. Here’s what Ned Milburn from Dartmouth Centre sent back. ——— Why should residents of your district vote for you? I bring informed […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
HRM reaches $3.6-million settlement for St. Patrick’s-Alexandra
[Image-1] Jono Developments will pay HRM $3.6 million for the former St. Patrick’s-Alexandra elementary school. Regional Council voted 14-2 in approval of a settlement agreement between the municipality and the developer during an in-camera meeting Tuesday night. Only peninsula councillors Waye Mason and Jennifer Watts voted against the sale. Some of that money may end up […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Who will Save Young Avenue and what will be left of it?
[Image-1] Development in Halifax has claimed another victim and outraged citizens, after city council voted against a motion to expedite heritage status for the historic Fram House on Young Avenue. The decision comes after the Cleveland Estate, also known as the wedding cake house, was demolished earlier this year. Both houses were bought by the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
15 questions with District 1 candidate Colin Castle
[Image-1] The Coast sent all 53 candidates running in HRM’s municipal election the same 15-question survey in order to help their residents and our readers know a little more about who’s running for council. Here’s what Colin Castle from Waverley—Fall River—Musquodoboit Valley sent back. ——— Why should residents of your district vote for you? Over the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax is in the weeds on its tree stump removal backlog
[Image-1] Councillor Linda Mosher is hoping to spruce up the HRM with a staff report asking for a dedicated fund for tree stump removal and the replanting of downed street trees. There’s currently a backlog of over 700 tree stumps in HRM awaiting removal. Most of those are leftovers from when Hurricane Juan tore through […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
HRM staff recommend purchasing the Purcells Cove Backlands
[Image-1] Parks and recreation staff are advising HRM Regional Council to buy the Purcells Cove Backlands property being offered by the Shaw Group, but the development firm needs to chill out with all the high-pressure sales tactics. Shaw, in partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), made an unsolicited presentation to council back in […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax’s dumbest intersection is getting fixed
[Image-1] It’s probably not the worst intersection in the municipality, but it’s got to be the most needlessly confusing. Now the meeting points of Windsor Street, Chebucto Road and Cunard Street will be getting an overhaul, according to HRM’s recent request for proposals for designs to reroute the intersection. Currently anyone driving on Cunard Street […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Council votes down height restriction for Willow Tree tower
[Image-1] Halifax has a fear of heights. That seems to be the message from city council in deciding not to limit the height of a proposed 29-storey development on Quinpool Road that’s been widely panned by both HRM staff and members of the public. A report by planning applications manager Carl Purvis recommended council limit the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Defending a wilderness
[Image-1] In the hot and dry days of summer, when most people were out searching for some relaxation at the lake or the beach or wherever, 1,420 of your fellow residents were busy writing letters to city hall. What’s even more extraordinary about this, aside from so many folks proactively participating in a municipal planning issue […]
