City hall is getting a makeover. Halifax council Tuesday approved a plan to begin the restoration of the historic structure, which was erected over a two-year period in 1887-89. The temporary scaffolding that was placed on the Argyle Street side of the building to protect pedestrians from falling stone will come down next week, with new construction scaffolding going up the same day. Council approved the first stage of a three-part restoration. The first stage deals with the west front of the building, and will consist of scraping the sandstone blocks of an improperly applied sealant that was applied in
City Hall
Posted inNews + Opinion
How to Fix the City Scorecard
Each January, our first issue of the year, we offer up our annual Fix the City suggestions in the spirit of civic-mindedness; truly, we’re trying to make this a better place to live. But does anyone listen? Are we making any difference, or is this a pointless exercise in navel-gazing? Turns out, most years we […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax Climate Events
Please note the changed dates below: If you were too broke or too worried about your own emissions to jump the bandwagon in Copenhagen, there’s still lots you can do right here in Hali to be part of “the most important human gathering ever.” On Saturday, December 12 at 5:00 pm there will be a […]
Posted inArts + Music
Khyber and the city: public consultation!
It’s no secret that the Khyber ICA and HRM have endured a rocky relationship, but today feels like the beginning of a whole new love affair, or the most passive-aggressive Sid and Nancy-style punch-up around. Today, And Still Counting an exhibition of paintings by Garry Neill Kennedy, in collaboration with the Khyber, opens at City […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Green Lantern building still shines
The historic Green Lantern building on Barrington Street will not be coming down after all. Halifax councillor Sue Uteck raised eyebrows at a recent council meeting when she said she had received an email from Green Lantern owner Jeff Webber expressing frustration with the city’s historic preservation efforts. “He’s given up on it, and is […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Duffy haunts City Hall
Before he retired earlier this year, Chronicle-Herald columnist Peter Duffy was internationally renowned for such groundbreaking journalism as his first-person account of being anally raped by a ghost, a single-entendre report on the opening of the Dartmouth Hooters and a softball interview with white supremacist Jared Taylor. This week that expertise is being taken to […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Stephen King agrees: climate change contributed to fires
Last year, a forest fire consumed nearly 2,000 hectares near Porters Lake. Last week, a fire burned 800 hectares near Spryfield, destroying eight homes. Stephen King looks at those fires and sees climate change. Before retiring last year, King was manager of HRM’s climate change department, and won wide acclaim. One of King’s many accomplishments […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Feds stimulate city’s wish fulfillment
Thanks to the collapse of the global financial industry, Halifax is getting a new Central Library, an additional Woodside ferry and a four-pad hockey arena in Bedford. Unless, that is, provincial politicians gut the deal with back-room deals and behind-the-scenes maneuvering to divert the money. All three projects have been on the city’s wish list […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Contributions to city candidates
1. Forms 40 and 41 are the campaign contribution reports legally required of all candidates running in municipal and school board elections; Form 40 is for money given to a candidate directly, while Form 41 is for money given to a candidate’s campaign association, a group working on the candidate’s behalf. Not all candidates have […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Icy sidewalks
I’ve interviewed Gord Hayward, the city winter works superintendent, who is responsible for overseeing the crews that clear streets and sidewalks. Listen to it in the audio player below.
Posted inNews + Opinion
Urban chickens: What the cluck?
Despite a staff report recommending no further action, the urban chicken debate in Halifax may just be getting underway. Last year, three west end hens were effectively evicted by HRM’s bylaw enforcement office after a complaint against them was lodged by an area neighbour. The eviction prompted protests from many would-be backyard chicken owners and […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Never-moving scaffolding on the west side of City Hall.
What’s wrong? Never-moving scaffolding on the west side of City Hall. Who’s responsible? Phil Townsend, assistant director, infrastructure & asset management, 490-4000. Remarks: This is part on-going renovations to City Hall. Engineers felt some of the stone work might drop on passing pedestrians, so they erected the scaffolding. The plan was to replace the stone […]