The Bloomfield debacle
The secretive sale of the former Bloomfield Centre shows once again that stopping gentrification and creating affordable housing is not a priority in this city, or indeed, this province.
Gentrification
District 8 candidate Virginia Hinch: “The community needs somebody who is going to fight for them”
We talk with Halifax Peninsula North candidate Virginia Hinch. “A lot of community members are being pushed out of our communities because they no longer can afford it.”
Imagine Bloomfield: Lament for a great idea
The sale of the Bloomfield school site by the city more than anything means the loss of desperately needed affordable housing. A look at what could have been.
Weekend video: Rooming houses – How the North End and Dartmouth gentrified
In 1995 there were 156 rooming houses in Halifax and Dartmouth. In 2016 there were fewer than 20 left. This video looks at the reasons why. Greed (aka capitalism) is the obvious reason, but urban planners and poor bashing media also played a role.
Letter to Halifax leadership on a golden opportunity to revisit the Cogswell development
Martyn Williams: There were numerous core concerns raised by stakeholders and by design experts regarding Cogswell’s lack of connectivity, lack of character, and lack of genuine buy-in and involvement from the community and stakeholders. Now we must take time to reconsider Cogswell, before mistakes are made. The new Cogswell just exists on paper right now. Nothing is irreversible.
Weekend video: Once upon a Black Halifax
This documentary puts a face to the rapid changes gentrification has brought to the Halifax North End. We meet some of the older residents who reminisce about life in their old neighborhood, one that actually deserved to be called vibrant.
Planning the gentrification of the North End, an interview with Ted Rutland
“We’d all benefit from living in a city that was less racist, that was less unjust, that was less oppressive, that was less centered on displacement in the interest of white supremacy and profit.” An interview with professor Ted Rutland about urban planning as a misguided strategy to reduce crime and poverty and pave the way for gentrification of the historic Halifax North End.
Larry Haiven: Eliminating the assessment cap will open the door to speculators and absentee landlords
Thoughtful presentation by Larry Haiven to an all-party committee reviewing a proposal to eliminate capped property assessments in Nova Scotia. “Our fear is that, allowed to run free, tax assessment based on the vagaries of the market could seriously damage a wonderful, diverse and still-affordable neighbourhood,” said Haiven.
Gentrification and income inequality the Halifax way – An interview with professor Howard Ramos
We interview professor Howard Ramos, who has done extensive research on evolving gentrification and spatial inequalities among neighbourhoods and rural communities in HRM.
Kendall Worth: Pushed out of the neighborhood, an update
Kendall Worth with a follow up on an earlier story about a family pushed out of their home and the neighborhood they love because of a huge rent increase.