The Nova Scotia Heritage Trust was battling on two fronts on Wednesday.
It was in court due to legal action it launched, seeking a judicial review of the planned $500-million Nova Centre in Halifax.
It was also the subject of a full-page pro-convention centre ad in the city’s largest newspaper. The ad targeted Nova Scotia Heritage Trust, stating that continued obstruction of the Nova Centre construction is not in the best interest of the city and province.
“We cannot sit on the site,” said Wadih Fares, the developer and man behind the ad. “This city is our city. This province is our province. We can’t sit back and wait for something to happen.”
Fares says more than 400 developers and business leaders have shown support for the ad, but the Nova Scotia Heritage Trust doesn’t see it that way.
“This group is not opposed to economic development,” said Ron Pizzo, lawyer for the organization. “It’s in favour of economic development that also preserves the heritage of the city.”
In addition to the existing court battle, the CEO of Argyle Develpments Ltd. and Nova Centre developer, Joe Ramia, is suing the Nova Scotia Heritage Trust.
“He has been obstructed, delayed and hindered by Heritage Trust,” said Mick Ryab, lawyer for Argyle Development. “And the position that he has adopted and his companies have adopted is that they’ve gone beyond their mandate.”
The Nova Centre, which includes a new $164-million convention centre, is schedule for completion in late 2015.
