The Halifax Regional Municipality is inviting the public to review two proposals that would transform prime, vacant land in Halifax’s north end. The 11.8 hectares of land is part of what Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore called the Young District “super-neighbourhood.” The Young District is bordered along Robie, Almon, Young, and Windsor Streets and is the focus of two new development proposals for land located within that area. “It’s among the largest remaining undeveloped or densely developed areas of land on the peninsula,” said Fillmore. “It’s already serviced. It’s got pipes and wires running to it. It’s close to schools. It’s close to grocery stores and professional services. It’s on transit, and it’s ready to go.” The 11.8 hectares of land is currently a patchwork of gravel parking lots and overgrown weeds but that could change soon. There are two developers involved: Fillmore says it is almost unheard of to have a large area of land located in a major Canadian city that’s already serviced by utilities. He adds that’s what makes this project more worthwhile for taxpayers. “It’s always in the taxpayer’s interest to keep costs down, to build on and densify land that’s already serviced in the way this land is,” said Fillmore. But Fillmore says there is even more room to grow in the Young District and points to the 5.7 hectares of land currently occupied by the Canada Post Warehouse on Almon Street, which could add another 2,000 units of housing. “The federal government is very aware of Halifax’s very keen interest in redeveloping that important site as residential,” said Fillmore. “Its sale could be a tremendous windfall to Canada Post at a moment when they could use the cash.” City Hall has scheduled three public information sessions on Wednesday, Aug. 5: Staff and developers will be at the Halifax Forum Maritime Hall at 2901 Windsor Street to share information and details of the proposals. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
