For the past 3-4 years I have been writing into newspapers, calling politicians, posting comments on forums and yes even creating useless bitches about the bullshit heritage groups holding back downtown development. Now that HRM city council has green lighted most of these pending developments I would like to see some fucking cranes on Halifax […]
Development
Posted inLove the Way We Bitch/Love
booooooooo
so this city wants to build a new WTCC and not give money to transition houses…..very interesting…..—saddened
Posted inNews + Opinion
Bogs and frogs lose as suburbia expands
In HRM’s vanishing wildlands, excavators rumble relentlessly across scarred landscapes. The destruction of natural habitat in and around HRM’s sprawling suburbs is so routine it’s rarely even newsworthy. Yet once in a blue moon, a determined citizen can make a big difference. On the weekend of June 6, Sackville resident Marilyn Challis spotted one of […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Urban planning explained
To the editor, Congratulations to Tim Bousquet for his article “Urban dreams” (May 28, News). It is one of the most concise and accurate accounts of what has been going on for the past few years in the HRM By Design downtown development fiasco. The issues have many citizens concerned about city hall’s proposed processes. […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Gottingen Terrace moves forward
There are three housing developments in the works along Gottingen. The first is a horrendous looking apartment complex going up at the corner of Falkland (Hello! Street level parking garage?!), the second the more-promising Theatre Lofts project just to the north. But the third is the most interesting on the street. Gottingen Terrace is the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
HRM By Design goes to Halifax council for approval
“Halifax was unique, before we got into this, in not having an urban design plan—urban design has been emerging as a serious discipline in the last 20 or so years,” says Andy Filmore, manager of the $405,000 HRM By Design planning initiative. This Tuesday, June 2, culminating three years of highly charged debate, dozens of […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Shop local: business profiles along Barrington Street
The historic area of Barrington Street is buttressed by the towers at Scotia Square at one end and the Maritime Centre on the other. It’s a busy thoroughfare for transit, local workers and shoppers. Sure, there are pockets of fallow storefront, but all it takes are a couple of key retailers to create a little […]
Posted inArts + Music
Charles Landry speaks in Halifax about great cities
Long before Richard Florida discovered the “creative class” and their predilection for culturally dynamic places, Charles Landry started talking about the “creative city,” referring to the regenerative force of arts and culture in post-industrial cities like Glasgow, Scotland, starting in the late 1980s. The UK writer/thinker will speak to a business luncheon crowd on Tuesday, […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Rank Inc. wins bid for new convention centre
According to a statement just released by a competing firm, Joe Ramia’s Rank, Inc, has been selected by the province to move forward with plans to construct a new World Trade and Convention Centre on Argyle Street, at the site of the former Chronicle-Herald building. Update: I’ve placed the text of The Hardman Group‘s press […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax Design Plan on Deck
It hasn’t gone away. In fact, its about to come around again: The Downtown Halifax Business Commission is encouraging folks to write their councillors to support the passing of the long-awaited and much-discussed HRM By Design, the $3 million financial incentive package put together to make firm development standards for downtown and reimagine the business […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
“Clear development rules”
Listening to Paul McKinnon on CBC radio this morning, I’m realizing that “clear development rules” = “approve every development that comes before council, no matter what.” I’ll expand on that later today.