'I'm concerned': Locals worried about proposed plans to redevelop Halifax Exhibition Centre site
More than 100 people attended the first of two public engagement sessions Wednesday afternoon to share feedback on development plans for the Halifax Exhibition Centre site.
The plan submitted by Fathom Studio – the planning consultant hired by the developer – in January 2023 involves a mixed-use development.
According to the proposed plan, called the Halifax Exhibition Centre Opportunity Site, the existing gas bar will remain while the other portion of the site will be redeveloped with:
- approximately 5,867 residential units, including 28 multi-unit buildings ranging between six to 24 storeys, as well as 20 townhomes and stacked townhomes
- changes to the central water and wastewater services
- new public roads, infrastructure and park land
Council started the process in April, saying the Regional Municipal Planning Strategy sees the land around the exhibition site as “an opportunity site for new housing development in support of housing needs of the municipality.”
A rendering showing an aerial view of a multi-use development of the Halifax Exhibition Centre site. (Fathom Studio)
However, while the province is dealing with a housing crisis, the notion of building a new neighbourhood is still raising concerns for some local residents.
Some say they’re worried about whether there will be enough schools, emergency services and large enough roadways to support an influx of residents.
“I’m concerned about the density here. They want to jam 12,000 people into 100 acres of land, which equals the size of Truro, and there’s no proposal for any schools, fire departments, police, medical services, none of the above,” said one man who attended the session.
“So, they basically want to build a small town and they don’t want to provide anything for the people that are living in that small town.”
Another woman who has lived in the area for 40 years said, with traffic congestion already a problem throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality, she’s concerned the new development would make it much worse.
“And the school system. I’m thinking, what’s going to happen to our community, which has been the same for 40 years for us?” she said. “I know we can’t stop change but I am concerned about traffic and what it’s going to do to all of us.”
A rendering of a multi-use development of Halifax Exhibition Centre. (Fathom Studio)
In an email to CTV Atlantic, Nicole Babineau, director of marketing and business development at Fathom Studio, said plans for the site aren’t finalized and discussions about potential schools and services are in the works.
“This open house comes before plans are made, and the feedback gathered will help in those discussions,” said Babineau in the email.
City officials insist the process provides lots of opportunity for input and feedback about the project, including infrastructure upgrades.
The second public engagement session on the matter was held Wednesday evening.
History of Halifax Exhibition Centre
The original exhibition structure, which was owned and operated by the provincial government until 2015, was built in the 1980s and known as Exhibition Park.
In 2015, a maintenance overview outlined extensive repairs and investment required to keep the building operating. This led to the closure and sale of the property to a private owner.
Once the repairs and upgrades were complete, the building reopened in 2016 as the Halifax Exhibition Centre, which continues to host major events and conventions each year.
Since 2016, the property has expanded to include a 16-pump gas bar and a go-kart track.
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
Correction
This is a corrected version. A previous version said Fathom Studio was the developer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Donald Trump picks former U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra as ambassador to Canada
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has nominated former diplomat and U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra to be the American ambassador to Canada.
Genetic evidence backs up COVID-19 origin theory that pandemic started in seafood market
A group of researchers say they have more evidence to suggest the COVID-19 pandemic started in a Chinese seafood market where it spread from infected animals to humans. The evidence is laid out in a recent study published in Cell, a scientific journal, nearly five years after the first known COVID-19 outbreak.
This is how much money you need to make to buy a house in Canada's largest cities
The average salary needed to buy a home keeps inching down in cities across Canada, according to the latest data.
'My two daughters were sleeping': London Ont. family in shock after their home riddled with gunfire
A London father and son they’re shocked and confused after their home was riddled with bullets while young children were sleeping inside.
Smuggler arrested with 300 tarantulas strapped to his body
Police in Peru have arrested a man caught trying to leave the country with 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes and nine bullet ants strapped to his body.
Boissonnault out of cabinet to 'focus on clearing the allegations,' Trudeau announces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced embattled minister Randy Boissonnault is out of cabinet.
Baby dies after being reported missing in midtown Toronto: police
A four-month-old baby is dead after what Toronto police are calling a “suspicious incident” at a Toronto Community Housing building in the city’s midtown area on Wednesday afternoon.
Sask. woman who refused to provide breath sample did not break the law, court finds
A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer's request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.
Parole board reverses decision and will allow families of Paul Bernardo's victims to attend upcoming parole hearing in person
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo will be allowed to attend the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) says.