HRM Exhibition Park Timeline of Events
BE IN THE KNOW:
Having a common understanding of the events that led to the current proposal of Halifax Exhibition Park development is important. Informed readers become informed advocates, and ultimately informed voters. For that reason, I have assembled a timeline of events (and their respective links) for District 13 to review.
Timeline:
November, 2015
Exhibition Park, along with 45 hectares (112 acres) of land, was sold by the then Liberal Government, to Banc Properties for the sum of $2.5 million dollars.
https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2015/11/06/province-has-agreement-principle-sale-exhibition-park
Of note:
Said Geoff MacLellan, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, "We know the park is important to the exhibitors and the public that use it and I'm happy to report that the agreement stipulates continued operation of the Exhibition Park in partnership with the Exposition Managers Society of Nova Scotia…This is a good business opportunity - we're moving out of the way to let the private sector take the lead."
As part of the sale, Banc Properties agreed to take on the necessary renovations and repairs which the building had incurred the previous winter. At the time, the province estimated immediate costs at $3 million, and the agreement stipulated the company (Banc Properties) must continue to operate the site in partnership with the Exposition Managers Society of Nova Scotia.
November 30, 2017
Case 20725: Development Agreement for 180 Prospect Road, Halifax
Of Note: Application by Halifax Exhibition Centre Inc. for a service station, convenience store, restaurant and car wash at 180 Prospect Road
C086 - Nov 15, 2021
https://www.nancyhartling.ca/sites/default/files/C086.pdf (there is no sharable link, so I uploaded the pdf to my site)
Of note: The plan delivered on November 2021 consisted of:
- 68 semi detached units
- 76 townhomes
- 22 multi-unit buildings from 4-6 storeys in height with about 1,800 units in total
- 1934 total units (about 4,300 people)
- About 165,000 sq.ft. of additional ground-floor commercial space facing onto Prospect Road.
- At least half of the parking would be located underground in order to minimize the surface parking and connected to stormwater
- Features at the north and south end of the site to polish runoff from the residential area. Many of the units are ‘street related’ to ensure that walkability is enhanced.
- In October, HRM published a policy paper on creating incentives for public affordable housing and it would be the developers intention to create at least 5% of the units (~100 units) as affordable housing units following HRM’s policy.
Case Case 22257 - July, 2022
https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/regional-council/220712rc15113_0.pdf
(See page 147)
Of note: As per request C086, staff recommend to amend the Regional Plan to identify the Exhibition Park site as an opportunity site where mixed-use residential/commercial development may be planned through a future master neighbourhood planning process.
PLPROJ-2023-01763 - April, 2024
https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/regional-council/240409rc1511.pdf
Of note: The plan delivered on April 2024 consists of:
- 28 multi-unit buildings ranging between 6 to 24 storeys
- 20 townhomes and stacked townhomes (146 individual units)
- approximately 5,867 total residential units
- an expansion of central water and wastewater services
- new public roads, infrastructure, and parkland
HRM City Council where the proposal was presented to Council by Patty Cuttell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCgw-U94f_o
(start at 47:51)