No decision on Waterside Centre, yet
Council will need another session to debate proposed development
By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter
Wed. Sep 17 - 5:34 AM
A proposed development for downtown Halifax is no closer to a decision after its second night at city hall.
The Armour Group’s Waterside Centre had another go-around Tuesday night at the second half of a public hearing but it’s clear regional councillors want to have their say, too.
At 11 p.m. — after 26 people spoke, bringing the total over two weeks to 61 — there were still eight councillors left to speak on the proposal.
The debate will continue in two weeks.
Ben McCrea, chairman of the Armour Group, told council last week that his proposal, which would link existing buildings on the corner of Duke, Hollis and Lower Water streets with a six-storey glass tower above, is necessary to make the buildings viable.
On Tuesday, he said he’s spent more than 2½ years working on the proposal.
And it’s been tough, he said.
He’s had a good working relationship with the heritage conservation groups over his 40-year career, he said.
"And I find it very difficult to keep on the high road to deal with the fact my company has been continually attacked by the (Heritage) Trust’s misinformation and portraying me and my company as the destroyer of Historic Properties."
Indeed, the animosity weighed upon Coun. Debbie Hum, who said she would have liked to see council faced with making a less contentious decision, not one that will fracture the group.
"We should not be name-calling and putting each other down," she said, noting that development hearings often pit heritage advocates against developers.
All of the speakers Tuesday night were against the development, bringing the total over the two-night hearing to 14 for and 47 against.
Those who rejected it said only the facades of the buildings would be preserved, while the interiors will be rebuilt to support the new six-storey tower above.
Despite the number of speakers who spoke out against the development, Coun. Reg Rankin said council is charged with one thing.
"The question for council tonight is: ‘Is this building within the rules?’ "
He pointed to the positive, "unbiased" staff report, which recommended its approval.
But the decision wasn’t so simple for some councillors.
Coun. David Hendsbee said it was one of the most difficult he has had to make over his lengthy council career.
Halifax is a jewel in terms of heritage properties "and we have to respect and exalt that," he said.
"I can’t see it fitting properly. . . . I have difficulty imagining it there."
(
apugsley@herald.ca)