News 1. ExxonMobil continues plans to shutter the offshore Yesterday, ExxonMobil asked the Utilities and Review Board (UARB) for permission to shut down and abandon its Point Tupper Fractionation Plant. This follows a March application to the National Energy Board to close and abandon the Goldboro Gas Plant. ExxonMobil says the Sable Offshore Energy Project (SOEP) is “in […]
Densely calculated density
In return for "public benefits" — affordable housing units, public art, and the like — the city trades "density bonuses" that allow developers to build higher and bigger than planning rules would otherwise allow. But a study shows that on just six big developments downtown, the city lost a potential $8 million in public benefits because it low-balled calculations.
If public meetings to discuss the municipality’s Centre Plan were episodes of Sesame Street, they would be “brought to you by the number 15.” The Centre Plan would chart development for the next 15 years. But that same number keeps getting raised in pointed questions from citizens who want to know why there’s a 15-year...
The Centre Plan, affordable housing, and the Willow Tree
Affordable housing, anyone? After nearly two years of promising to do something about it, the City’s draft Centre Plan being discussed at a series of public meetings and online could actually deliver some of the 5,000 units promised by 2021. That is, if — and it’s a big IF — HRM regional council approves and...
Taking it to the bank: Morning File, Thursday, January 18, 2018
News 1. Melford Mary Campbell discusses the business case for the proposed Melford Terminal on the Strait of Canso. Campbell was contacted by Richie Mann, the former MLA who now runs “government relations” for Melford International Terminal Inc, and the two had an interesting discussion about the differences between the proposed Sydney terminal and the proposed Melford […]
Welcome to our new robot overlords: Morning File, Wednesday, January 17, 2018
News 1. The VG replacement report is finished, but you can’t see it “On Friday, December 29, the final work day of 2017, the province received a consultant’s report containing some highly anticipated information,” reports Jennifer Henderson: The report included a preliminary cost estimate, timeline, and master plan to replace services delivered out of the crumbling […]
How Halifax city council screws working people: Morning File, Wednesday, December 14, 2016
News How Halifax city council screws working people Two issues of note were discussed by city council yesterday. The first was a plan to award “density bonusing” to developers who include a few units of “affordable housing” in their new buildings. I’ll return to that momentarily, but first I want to speak about the second issue […]