Over 500 readers took our inaugural renters’ survey to tell us what life is like as a renter in Halifax. The results were grim, with housing affordability out for reach for over half of respondents, people paying more than initially budgeted and spending more than eight weeks looking for new apartments. Here’s the results:
Development
Posted inNews + Opinion
Burning thoughts about renting in Halifax from the Haligonians in the trenches
We asked readers to share their thoughts about renting in Halifax, and they had a lot to say. (This isn’t all of it.) Who the heck are these million-dollar condos for? Location isn’t everything if the place looks like you’d need a tetanus shot to live there. It’s expensive compared to salaries. Bedbugs should be […]
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Airbnb listings seeing increased revenue, more “Superhosts”
Q New Airbnb statistics show a big increase in multiple-listing hosts in Halifax Regional Municipality since last year. According to the data, entire-home listings continue to see the most bookings, and hosts who manage multiple units make half of all the revenue generated by the short-term accommodation site during the height of the summer season. […]
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Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts faculty clash with the Board of Governors
About 200 people attended a town hall meeting on Tuesday night to discuss the future of the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, a performing-arts school and performance venue in the historic building at 6199 Chebucto Road in Halifax. “Anybody in this room tonight is a stakeholder,” said Jason Davies, the MCPA faculty association’s dean of music. […]
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Dear Halifax developers: be more creative
Halifax Regional Council has recently approved a slew of developments within the downtown, south end and Quinpool areas of the city. All the developments are either high rises or exceed previously stated limitations on height in the city. The 8-storey development on Wellington Street exceeds the 6-story height limit despite the local outcry. The most […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Public engagement phase of Common master plan comes to an end amidst concerns
The municipality is working to address concerns and develop a vision for the future of the Halifax Common park as it enters the next phase of planning. The final round of public engagement in the master planning process, which launched in December 2017, ended July 22 with the closing of an online survey. The most […]
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Eight storey building gets approval for Brunswick street
An eight-storey residential unit building got approval from Halifax West and Community Council this week. The proposed property will nest behind the historic rectory building which sits at the front of the lot at 2267 Brunswick Street beside St. Patrick’s Church. The application was first put forward by Studio Works International Inc. on behalf of […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
What is affordable housing, anyway?
From public housing to transitionary housing, shelters and housing supports or just the notion that spending more than 30 percent of your income is considered unaffordable, much of the inaction on affordable housing comes from the lack of a firm definition. At two information sessions at Halifax North Memorial Public library and Halifax Central Library […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Eight plus-a-penthouse storey building plans approved for Robie, Cunard and Compton Street block
The latest development to get approval while the Centre Plan nears crunch time will sit eight and a bit storeys high on Robie Street between Cunard and Compton Streets facing the Halifax Common. Neighbours from the area came forward at the public hearing to voice their concerns, but at this stage in the process they […]
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Halifax and West Community Council moving quickly on new builds
A s the Centre Plan looms in the somewhat near future, the city is moving quickly to get development applications caught in its crossfire settled before the big changes come about. Halifax and West Community Council voted one of those developments, a 19-storey building at 2859 Robie Street, between Bilby and Macara Streets, through to […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
The not-ready Centre Plan strikes back while moving forward
HRM’s Centre Plan is marginally closer to actually existing. The community design advisory committee reviewed all the land use bylaws included in the Centre Plan on Wednesday, and gets two more meetings to pick it apart, a version of progress that’s coming too late for councillor Sam Austin’s constituents, who blame “broken” bylaws for a […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
SCIENCE MATTERS: Carbon, climate and corruption coalesce in concrete
Most of us rarely think about concrete, but it’s the foundation of modern society — from roads, buildings and bridges to the economy, political power and crime. We use more of it than anything except water. Concrete has been a great driver of human progress. It’s allowed us to build up instead of out, made […]