From today's Herald.
Doesn't say much except that nothing is happening lol. I did find it odd how Kelly "hoped" all those approved projects would move forward. Seems odd he would have a genuine opinion.
City’s big projects still plodding to possibility
By MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE City Hall Reporter
Wed. Aug 19 - 4:46 AM
They’re proposed projects Halifax city hall has researched and debated for years. In a couple of cases, they have even been endorsed.
But whether the planned Bedford fast-ferry project, a new central library in Halifax, a proposed convention centre for the downtown core and controversial twin towers destined for the old Tex-Park site ever see the light of day remains to be seen.
The high-speed commuter ferry has been talked about off and on since a successful trial run in Halifax Harbour in 2005. Under the plan, a Bedford ferry terminal would be built for Metro Transit and vessels would make trips to downtown Halifax and back.
Supporters feel the $20-million fast-ferry scheme could help take commuters’ cars off the roads and would tap an underutilized harbour. Opponents say the city still doesn’t have a business plan for the project and needs time to review the system’s pros and cons.
The proposed project is to be included in next year’s municipal budget, city hall staffer Dave McCusker said Tuesday. He said if it’s approved by Halifax regional council, high-speed ferries should be running by the end of 2012.
Asked about a business plan, Mr. McCusker said much of that has been prepared. He said staff hope to approach council by the end of the year to see how willing the politicians are to include the project in the next budget.
"The intention is we’d go to council before they see a budget, just to get their indication of whether they’d have an interest in seeing that in the (2010-11) budget or not," said Mr. McCusker, a transportation planning manager with HRM.
The fast-ferry project, if approved by regional council, would include two new vessels, a ferry terminal in Bedford and parking spaces for commuters.
Metro’s proposed new library, for Halifax’s Spring Garden Road and Queen Street area, is another large project where progress appears glacially slow. It’s still on the books, but contingent on funding.
It’s been discussed at Halifax city hall for about 12 years and the planned site for the building is now a parking lot. The project’s price tag has climbed over the years — it’s now about $55 million — and that has attracted some controversy.
In April, council endorsed the proposed central library as a priority infrastructure project for the municipality. The city has submitted a list of its top infrastructure spending priorities to the provincial and federal governments. A planned convention centre complex for downtown Halifax was announced by the provincial and municipal governments earlier this year. Though a preliminary, non-binding agreement was signed between city hall and the former Conservative government, Mayor Peter Kelly is optimistic the New Democrats will honour that pact.
A cost estimate and business plan need to be done before a hole in the ground is dug prior to construction, the mayor told The Chronicle Herald. He said municipal and provincial officials have met to discuss the proposed $300-million complex, which could be built by 2013.
One of the most contentious developments to be approved by regional council in recent years is a set of 27-storey towers planned for the former Tex-Park site. Plans call for a hotel, condos and commercial space. Council approved the $150-million project in 2006, but the Granville Street property remains vacant.
Mr. Kelly said it is not the only major project that’s been approved for downtown that has not progressed. He said all these developments are market-driven, but hopes they can be built in the near future.
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