'We want a safe place to play'
Children rally against proposed Bayers Road residential development
SUZY TEUBNER
Halifax News Net
Chants of "Children first!" and "We want a safe place to play!" were heard from a group of about 40 children last week, rallying to stop the development of a proposed 16-storey apartment building, set for the land next to the St. Andrew's Community Centre.
The kids, holding colourful signs, stood on the grass by Bayers Road as passing motorists honked in support.
"It's sad if they build a big building," said six-year-old Shyqwana James, holding a sign that said she wanted a water slide.
The property, located at 6955 Bayers Rd., was purchased by the Italian Cultural Association for $1 in 1998. It was declared surplus in 2004 when the land was offered back to the city. A private developer purchased the nearly one hectare of park land and after considering various options, proposed a single, 16-storey residential apartment building with underground parking with plans to donate a portion of the site to HRM for public open space and improve the HRM-owned cemetery. The development would require a plan amendment and changes to the land use bylaw to proceed.
A section of the land is an enclosed graveyard for unidentified Halifax Explosion victims and also contains private plots. Sister Helen Wallace has volunteered at the community centre for six years. The retired teacher and Sister of Charity is concerned about the developer building on a graveyard.
"Local historians have proven the land (adjacent to the enclosed cemetery) is a graveyard for poor people," said Wallace. "There are 30 people buried there. (An apartment building) is not compatible with the surrounding area. If a building was constucted there, a church would be more suitable on a graveyard."
Wallace said many people would like it to become a park.
"We need a safe place for the children," she said. "A soccer field and a place for senior's to practice tai chi. Financial gain is the only motive for developers, not for the residents. This was a graveyard. You don't build on a graveyard. If this was in a very expensive area of the city, this would never happen."
Kyle Gannon, 13, said that he would like to see a football or baseball field.
"I want them to make our community better. It's not really that pretty and the city should try to make stuff to make kids better," he said. "We should have a recreation centre for kids so they can be doing activities instead of just being outside doing nothing."
Mayor Peter Kelly said the proposal is still subject to public hearings.
"Plans may not go forward in that form. We have to look at demand and hear from the community," he said.
Kelly said when the opportunity came up to buy back the property in 2004, it went to staff and did not come back to council.
"There are provisions to have a buyback clause should the property be disposed of that the municipality would have first right of refusal. It's not in there. That's an error on our side. It should have been there," he said. "It's a learning process with an unfortunate outcome. We didn't cross our T's and dot our I's."
In the meantime, Kelly said a review is needed and he wants to work with the community.
"Let's see what we can do to work with the community and help them. We're working with the councillor and holding meetings and discussions to see what we can do for the community," he said.
Long-time area resident and co-organizer of the rally Julie Gannon said the surrounding area consists of lower-income housing with some privately-owned homes in the mix. There are approximately 800 children, not including teenagers.
"With public or low-income housing, people presume there's a lack of education. It's not. A lot of people have large families," she said. "All of the kids (in the area) utilize the rec centre. There is a gymnastics centre but the families in here can't afford to attend that. It's not that our kids can't do it (but) finances don't allow them especially with having larger families."
A proposed widening of Bayers Road also concerned Gannon.
"Traffic is already a problem. A lot of people cut through Romans to get to the highway if they widen Bayers Road.
traffic would be horrendous. It really affects the kids if they have to cross the streets. There's no safe place to play," she said, adding that playgrounds in the area are not well maintained.
A recent traffic study showed the development would not make an impact on the current 42,000 trips per day.
Gannon said the community uses the empty field for community events and childrens activities. The recreation centre on site also houses a daycare, an after-school program and a seniors program.
"It's a big community concern if it's gone and no longer there for us. Kids need a spot for kids and not just the little ones.
"My grandchildren live there and there's not a lot for them to do. If there is nothing for (kids) to do, they're going to get into trouble," said Gannon.
sue_teubner@yahoo.ca
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