FHC Update: During COVID bubbling its been wonderful to see how many people are enjoying the Common for sitting, playing, eating, socializing or relaxing. A round up of recent media stories shows what Friends of Halifax Common has been busy doing to work with citizens to protect the Halifax Common. Legislative protection of the Halifax Common is critical, as is the need to re-commit to the goals of the 1994 Common Plan to keep, not give up, and re-capture its public open space.

• Our Chronicle Herald Op Ed asks Herald Op Ed: Why do HRM’s mayor and council hold the Common in such contempt?
• An interview with Rick Howe News 95.7: Health Do$$ars to Build Parking Garages – Governments Going Backwards discusses why the ~3000 citizens wanting legislative protection of the Halifax Common are getting a 500-stall 8-storey parking garage next to the NS Museum instead. Note that many people don’t yet realize that the provincial government has already awarded that $30 million contract and also has plans for a second 1000-stall parking garage at the former CBC-TV. 
• Robert Devet’s story in theNS Advocate: Demolition permits in Halifax: The problem with tearing things downconnects the dots between development, demolitions, affordable housing and climate change; a problem that the Centre Plan intensifies.

And finally two Halifax Examiner articles covers two Common related developments.

• At Robie/College, Rouvalis wants to increase his 20 & 26 towers to 29 & 30 next to the Lawen’s 26 & 29 storeys. Councillor Waye Mason seems to be on board. You may remember that the two projects with four towers were never shown together at pubic consultations. There’s more of that kind of magical illustration here:https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/city-hall/halifax-developer-updates-design-of-massive-robie-street-project-with-taller-towers-and-more-units/  Curious and curiouser is the original Centre Plan public consultation proposed adding only 500 residents in two 10-storey or one 10-storey and two 5-storey buildings for the Carlton Street entire area. 
• Lindell Smith disappointingly put forward a motion to proceed with a 23-storey proposal at the Cruickshanks property next to Shawn Cleary’s 25-storey Armco/Shannex Willow Tree building. It’s really at least a double disappointment as Lindell’s motion goes against the 6-storeys permitted under the Centre Plan and as well is against the HRM Staff report recommendations. https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/city-hall/halifax-developer-proposes-23-storey-tower-for-robie-street-under-baked-in-centre-plan-exception/

What does all this add up to? The pandemic has let us know we need to make better use of our public space and streets for people to gather safely. More high-rises, more shadow, more wind, more cars and more traffic on the Common and less space for common shared use is not the way to go. The Centre Plan proposes no new parks for the Peninsula but intends to add 15-30,000 new residents. Just like the pandemic this is another signal that we can’t keep making the same bad decisions and expect different results.

There’s a municipal election on October— let your candidates know that protecting the Halifax Common as well as extending it to create a green network of new parks throughout the Peninsula is a top priority.

Please let us know what you think and how you can help.

Very best wishes for staying well from Friends of Halifax Common