The Centre Plan’s fund for affordable housing will get its first influx of money after council voted Tuesday to approve a honking $1.8 million from Armco development group for the Willow Tree development on Quinpool Road and Robie Street. The large sum stems from the development’s plan to exceed 62 metres in height. Though the […]
Halifax Regional Council
Posted inNews + Opinion
A seat at regional council is up for grabs in Lower Sackville, meet who is in the running
What’s the #1 job of a HRM councillor? Paul Russell: I used to think: Infrastructure. I now think: Helping our community and our society at the most grassroots level possible. Tony White: To improve their community in general. You’re advocating on behalf of the people who, by voting for you, have trusted you to do […]
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6 Halifax developments you should know about
Wellington Street (Case 20774) In July, regional council voted to let a bunch of developments go ahead despite the looming Centre Plan. This is one of the more controversial projects, an application by Lydon Lynch Architects, on behalf of owner BANC Developments, for an eight-storey structure on Wellington Street in Halifax’s south end. The development […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
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
Council talks about the pros and cons of surveillance cameras in public spaces
Deputy mayor Tony Mancini brought an information report from staff about the surveillance Camera Pilot Project for Public Spaces to council for discussion this week. In May 2017, council asked for a staff report on the use of surveillance cameras in public spaces looking at both permanent and temporary camera systems, using the Farrel Street […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Council approves conditional funding for The Bus Stop Theatre
The Bus Stop Theatre’s last Hail Mary has paid off—for now. At regional council on Tuesday, every seat was full with members of the arts community, some of whom had to sit in overflow seating. Councillor Steve Streatch described the scene best when he said, “My god, the difference a week can make.” Last week, […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax’s theatre community rallies behind The Bus Stop Theatre Co-op
Sébastien Labelle is perched in a booth at the front of The Bus Stop Theatre, looking out from the window onto Gottingen Street, wearing a rare uneasy expression. On his laptop he listens to a radio interview, waiting for a hint about the fate of the co-op he leads. Broadcasting on News 95.7’s Rick Howe […]
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Will the Scotiabank Centre’s score clock make it through the Memorial Cup final?
Hockey fans won’t be the only people in the Scotiabank Centre holding their breath this weekend. While the Guelph Storm face off against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies tonight, and the winner moves on to take on the Halifax Moosehead on Sunday, Events East staff will be holding their breath too, in hopes that the 17-year-old end-of-its-life […]
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Transit updates, parking promises and something that was Yarmouth’s idea first
H alifax Transit gave a third-quarter key indicator report, noting that there’s been just under 10,000 transit passes given out through the department of community services’ pilot project, and over 1,000 of those have been given to children. And Dave Reage, director of Halifax Transit, says they’ve been working towards the goal of having Access-A-Bus […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Council approves 2019-20 budget
City council approved $163 million in capital spending and $793.7 million municipal expenditures in the budget for 2019-2020 this week. The city’s been shaking up the budget process for over five years, and this year’s parking lot of shopping expenses was the latest attempt to make the process more effective. Tuesday’s meeting was more ceremonial […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Soon it’ll be easier to ignore each other on public transit
Council’s work to get more wifi in more places gets a nudge after approving a public transit wifi pilot project, and looking into rejigging the locations of some public wifi locations. The approved pilot project will outfit 20 buses with wifi for 12 months and report back with a plan for wifi hotspots at three […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Council to consider cutting construction costs for affordable housing projects
Council approved deputy mayor Tony Mancini’s motion to incentivize non-profits working in affordable housing to actually break ground. His motion asking for a staff report on what waving municipal construction fees for non-profits passed this week with an amendment from councillor Lindell Smith making sure eligible non-profits actually work within the realm of affordable housing. […]