News
Last Day to E-Vote
The municipal election is almost over. Today is the last day to vote online or by phone. E-voting ends at 7:00 pm tonight. In 2020, over 80% of the vote in District 5 was cast electronically. This is your chance to have a say in how HRM is run. I urge everyone to vote.
It’s been an honour being your Councillor for the last eight years. We’ve faced some significant challenges and done some incredible things, like tackling the Yellow Floating Heart infestation in Little Albro Lake, daylighting the Sawmill River, expanding the ferry service to 15 minute frequency, the Centre Plan, and more. Throughout, I have put in a lot of work into keeping you as well-informed as I can through this newsletter and my website blog. I thank you for your feedback, engagement, and support over the last four years. I love the work, and there is always more of it to do. I have set out an ambitious platform on my website for 2024-2028 that you can check out in detail here. From housing, to the waterfront, to protecting our lakes, improving how we move around, and more. I hope to continue working on your behalf. Dartmouth, we do great things together!
As I write this at 11:00 pm on October 15, the turnout in District 5 is 20.3%. Last time 42% of District 5’s voters cast a ballot, mostly online and by phone. Hopefully there will be a rush today in the final hours of the online vote. Please go vote!
To vote, you need to be a Canadian citizen, and have been a resident of Nova Scotia before April 8, 2024. To vote electronically, please go to halifax.simplyvoting.com or call 1-888-371-0341. You’ll need your unique PIN that was mailed to your home address. Most voters received their voter packages on either October 4th or 7th so if you haven’t checked your mail lately, it’s likely sitting in your mailbox! If you didn’t receive a voter package and need assistance, you can call the voter helpline at 902-490-8683 or 1-844-301-8683.
If you prefer to vote in-person, election day is this Saturday, October 19. You can find your in-person polling location on HRM’s website here. Remember, the e-vote ends today at 7:00 pm
Ocean Breeze:
A few people have been asking me about what’s happening at Ocean Breeze. Ocean Breeze is a townhouse community that is located just north of the MacKay Bridge near the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. The townhouses on the property have been around since 1963 and are basically at end of life and need major work. Although the buildings aren’t in great condition, they are very affordable with rents of less than $1,400 a month! It’s the kind of housing that just doesn’t exist anywhere else other than in public housing. There is a real community at Ocean Breeze with some long-time renters.
As part of the Centre Plan, Ocean Breeze was zoned Higher Order Residential, which allows for apartment buildings to be built on site. The property changed hands in 2021 and the new owner is proceeding to redevelop the site through a phased approach. The owners have, so far, kept units that have come vacant empty so that they can shift original tenants out of units that are due to be demolished, but that is a time limited approach. Sometime in the next several years, there will come a day when the last townhouses get torn down and the folks who are left will have to find somewhere else to live. The loss of the affordable, family-oriented housing at Ocean Breeze will be felt.
The fundamental problem that Ocean Breeze lays bare is the folly of expecting the private sector to provide deeply affordable housing. When it comes to the private sector and affordable housing, it’s not a won’t, it’s pretty much a can’t. Costs for construction are too high and market incentives work against the objective. Affordable housing is a public good and it should be paid for like how we pay for other public goods: collectively through government. The failure at Ocean Breeze is that our provincial housing agency wasn’t able to effectively intervene in the housing market to protect and create non-market affordable housing. The missing piece here is an activist public housing agency.
Imagine a different world where our public housing provider, Metro Housing, was actually expanding to meet the need. In such a world, when the Ocean Breeze application came in, HRM and Metro Housing could have worked out a deal with the developer to purchase units or land to replace what’s being lost. If we want to prevent Ocean Breeze type situations, we need our public housing agency to take up its role of providing non-market housing.
The suggestion has been made that the Centre Plan rezoning to Higher Order Residential is causing the demolition of Ocean Breeze. That’s a simplistic read of a complex situation. No matter what Ocean Breeze was zoned, the owner would have some redevelopment rights. There is no zoning that HRM could have applied that would have been “you can do nothing.” The idea that things would stay as is because HRM tried to block anything major from happening seems like a very unlikely outcome given that the underlying situation of the townhouses being old and rundown with well below market rents would still be true. All the incentives to tear down the buildings and do something else with the property would still be there, regardless of whether the property was zoned for townhouses or larger apartments.
Let’s pretend for a moment that HRM didn’t rezone the property to allow for high-rises and that it was zoned for townhouses instead. In this alternative world, would the owner of the property have just gone away and left things as is? Not a chance. Townhouses on nearby Nadia Drive are selling for just under $500,000, and there is empty space at Ocean Breeze so it’s not hard to imagine a profitable outcome for the developer, without needing to build any high-rises. About all that would have changed in a townhouse scenario is the sale price for the property would have been less since it would have had less redevelopment potential. The end result though of the affordable housing disappearing would have been the same. The rezoning to allow apartments is making the redevelopment of Ocean Breeze bigger, but it’s not what has caused the loss of affordable housing.
To try and get at the root cause of the issue that Ocean Breeze highlights, my platform has a commitment to create more public housing by transferring that responsibility from the Province to HRM. I believe public housing would be better run at the municipal level because HRM would build units, and public housing would pair very well with the municipality’s existing planning responsibilities. The challenge is paying for it. There is no point in HRM taking on public housing if we’re not setup for success. I think that could be solved too if the Province is willing to negotiate. Making change around public housing will require the Province’s agreement and won’t be easy, but with all the pressure and attention on housing, there really hasn’t ever been a better time to ask. We’re fundamentally not going to solve our housing issue without a major recommitment to building non-market housing in all its forms. You can read more here.
Encampment Update
As we head into the cold months, HRM and the Province are working to provide indoor space for the approximately 150 folks who are living outside. Between the pallet villages and the tiny home community in Sackville, there are about 150 new spaces for people experiencing homelessness coming online. Not everyone outside will get one of those units though as there are also folks on the by name list who are waiting for accommodation and are currently living in hotels, and shelters. HRM is expecting that there will be a need for more winter shelter space and is pressing the Province to provide it.
Although there isn’t enough space yet for everyone, HRM is moving ahead with the process of de-designating the University Avenue encampment. The University Avenue encampment sits in the median between two road lanes and people can’t remain there during the winter months because snow and ice gets pushed into that space from the road. It would be potentially dangerous for folks to remain there. HRM will follow the same process that the municipality has used to close other encampments of working with the individuals living there to find them alternative options. Once the closure of University Avenue is complete, outreach workers will shift their focus to Green Road and Geary Street where overcrowding remains an issue.
Sullivan’s Pond Fountain
I have had a few people ask what happened to the fountain at Sullivan’s Pond? The fountain has been out of commission now for several months because the old pump that ran it completely failed and had to be replaced. There were supply chain issues in getting a replacement delivered and then the one person in town who could do the somewhat technical installation work (this isn’t an off the shelf fountain, it’s basically a custom piece) was unavailable due to a personal emergency. Both issues are pretty much behind us now and HRM is expecting the fountain will be back up and running this month. We’re just waiting on the contractor now who is expecting to be able to get to it soon. It’ll be good to have this Dartmouth landmark up and running again.
Dragonfly Sullivan’s Pond
Still with Sullivan’s Pond, I also had a number of people reach out wondering what happened to the dragonfly and storybook at the Children’s Memorial by the intersection of Prince Albert Road and Hawthorne Street. Both sculptures abruptly vanished a few weeks ago. They haven’t been stolen, they’ve been removed for routine maintenance work. The surfaces of each piece are being refinished and recoated. HRM is expecting that both will be reinstalled at the Pond this month.
Harbour Trail Chicane
Life can be stranger than fiction sometimes. It’s been about two months since Atlantic Road Construction and Paving tried, unsuccessfully, to blockade the Harbour Trail with concrete jersey barriers. Well, a new set of barricades recently appeared, this time on the downhill slope coming over the bridge by King’s Wharf. These new concrete blocks weren’t installed by HRM or Build Nova Scotia, they were placed there by an adjacent business. The intent with these barricades wasn’t so problematic, they were dropped there as the business had concerns about bikes, scooters and skateboards coming down the slope at high speed into an area where their work vehicles operate. This section of trail is managed by Build Nova Scotia, but HRM has an interest in it too as the Harbour Trail is a joint project. The business has removed the barricades and Build Nova Scotia, HRM and the business will be discussing the issue to try and come up with a better solution.
Lawnsdale Park Work Delayed
Parks is deferring work that was planned in Lawnsdale Park in Crichton Park until next year. The original plan was to rebuild the pathway from Susan Place to Lawnsdale Drive as part of adjoining roadwork. Public Work’s Lawnsdale/Birchwood project, however, is still in detailed design, and as a result work that Parks had planned won’t proceed this year. I have talked to Parks about this project and the plan is to carry over funds to 2025/2026. So the pathway repairs will be a 2025 project instead of a 2024 one.
Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed
The Dartmouth Seniors Service Centre is looking for volunteers to help with the Centre’s Meals on Wheels program. Meals on Wheels is a lifeline to vulnerable people in our community who would otherwise struggle to get a nutritious meal. The program depends on volunteers. If you would like to help out please contact Laurie or Don at 902-465-5578 ext 216 or email mow@dartmouthseniors.ca
Public Consultation
HRCE Public Engagement
Wednesday, October 30, 6:00 pm
The Halifax Regional Centre for Education will be holding an online engagement session to discuss HRCE’s plans to maintain their existing schools and respond to growing enrolment in HRM. Registration in advance is required. A link will be provided on Wednesday, October 30. To register, visit HRCE’s page here.
Council Update
Nothing new here as Council is on break until after the election. I look forward to blogging about the good, the bad, and the ugly and everything in between after the election.
Events
Nova Scotia Works Fall Job Fair
Thursday, October 17, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Friday, October 18 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Zatzman Sportsplex
The Nova Scotia Works Fall Job Fair is taking place this week at the Zatzman Sportsplex. Over 70 employers over two days are collectively recruiting for hundreds of job openings in wide variety of industries. For more information, check out the Nova Scotia Works page here.
Day of Caring
Saturday, October 19, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Christ Church Hall
61 Dundas Street, Dartmouth
If you’re unhoused or are at risk of becoming unhoused, service providers will be hosting an event at Christ Church. The idea is to gather all government service providers in one location to make it easy to access programs and services. Health card renewals, tax and CRA services, birth certificates, social insurance numbers, pensions, etc.
Nocturne
Thursday, October 17 – Saturday, October 19
Halifax and Dartmouth
The municipal election won’t be the only big event on Saturday night. Nocturne will be taking place with various art projects underway throughout Halifax and Dartmouth. There are also some events and talks scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Check out the program guide here for complete details.
Youth Yoga Class
Saturday, October 19, 10:30 am
Ferry Terminal Park
The Back to the Sea Society will be hosting a youth yoga session with Rowan Furlotte. Session will be 45 minutes and will take place in Ferry Terminal Park. Registration is required, with a suggested price of $10 per participant. Register online here.
Coastal Action Litter Clean-up Pop-up
Thursday, October 24, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Alderney Gate Library
Stop by the Coastal Action Litter Clean-up Pop-up to grab some free litter-related gear and learn more about how you can help rid Nova Scotia of litter. Coastal Action is a non-profit environmental organization that focuses on environmental education and conservation research projects. Coastal Action has recently taken on facilitating two province-wide litter clean-up programs: the Great NS Pick-Me-Up and NS Adopt-A-Highway Programs. Last year, volunteers collected nearly 100,000 lbs of litter.
Downtown Dartmouth Food Crawl
Thursday, October 24, 5:30 – 8:00 pm
Downtown Dartmouth
The Downtown Dartmouth Food Crawl is a self-guided food sampling tour. The Crawl includes many of Downtown Dartmouth’s restaurants. Bring your appetite and let someone else do the cooking. For more details, visit Downtown Dartmouth’s website here.
Grace United New to You and Book Sale
Friday, October 25, 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Saturday, October 26, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Grace United, 70 King Street
Grace United will be holding their fall book and thrift sale later this month. Come do some treasure hunting. $5 for a bag of books.
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