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 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 Dominick Desjardins from Halifax South Downtown sent back.
 ——— Why should residents of your district vote for you?
We need […]
Development
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 7 councillor Waye Mason
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 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 incumbent councillor Waye Mason from Halifax South Downtown sent back.
 ——— Why should residents of your district vote for […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
HRM staff recommend purchasing the Purcells Cove Backlands
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 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
Council votes down height restriction for Willow Tree tower
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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
Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes report argues against development
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HRM staff are willing to play hardball when it comes to protecting the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes lands from private development.

A staff report published Wednesday afternoon is recommending Regional Council ignore Justice Heather Robertson’s facilitator report and come up with a new plan to purchase and protect lands in the proposed Blue Mountain-Birch Cove […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Growing Halifax without messing it up
Ask the right people, and you’ll discover Halifax is about to get a lot bigger. Looking at recent statistics, the population of HRM rose from 359,111 in 2001 to 390,096 in 2011. That’s an average growth rate of nearly 1% every year. While past performance is no guarantee of future results, at that rate we’re […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Planning and development fees in HRM could finally see an increase
[Image-1] Planning and development fees in Halifax haven’t increased in several years, and that’s a problem. A report headed to Regional Council on Tuesday afternoon recommends the municipality move forward with the second phase of a fee review and develop a standardized policy for its planning and development fees. 
Those fees haven’t been updated in […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Video report: Nova Centre vs. its downtown neighbours
The new convention centre is supposed to be a gleaming jewel that attracts people from all over the world to downtown Halifax. Exactly like the Central Library…if the library was closed most of the time; less architecturally interesting; intended for use only by private groups the likes of orthodontists and data miners; put multiple levels […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Council couldn’t have stopped Honda expansion says information report
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 It’s largely too little, too late now, but an information item before city council says HRM wouldn’t have been able to stop Rob Steele’s parking lot proliferation even if it tried. The report originates from a petition signed by more than 1,000 community members that was brought to council back on May 10. It […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
An open letter to Rob Steele
[Image-1] The Steele Auto Group has bought and is demolishing 17 homes in order to expand the parking lot at its Honda dealership on Robie Street. Company CEO Rob Steele has refused repeated requests to meet with neighbours, including to discuss ways to save the last house slated for demolition—the purple house on the corner […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
In the name of democratic development
[Image-1] Our cooperative recently advertised a one-bedroom plus den unit for $620/month (heat and water in) and were dismayed by the response: We received 47 applications. The letters sent were inspiring and heartbreaking. Young and old, from all social backgrounds. They were all making meaningful contributions to the city as teachers, lawyers, community gardeners, volunteers, […]
