Public meeting Wednesday will discuss building by-laws on historic Young Avenue

HALIFAX – A public information meeting goes Wednesday night to solicit feedback on how to amend Halifax Regional Municipality’s land-use by-laws to best protect heritage designated homes and districts.

Earlier this year, several councillors supported a motion to produce a staff report on implementing a demolition moratorium on registered heritage buildings or districts after residents on Young Avenue expressed concerns over the demolition of historic homes for development.

Three homes on the street have been demolished since 2006, including the nineteenth century Cleveland Estate earlier this year, leading to the launch of the group ‘Save Young Avenue’ headed by resident Peggy Cunningham.

Cunningham, who purchased her home six years ago, collected 800 signatures on a petition to council in October that called for a halt to the total demolition of heritage homes, as she said other many cities do a better job of preserving history than Halifax.

“Our city is allowing these heritage homes to be torn down and be lost to the city forever,” she said, noting of the 800 signatures, some have come from around the world with the area a popular destination for tour busses.

“They’re appalled by this,” she said. “I’ve lived in other parts of Canada and other cities have much better heritage protection, which our group has fought for but were unsuccessful in getting the city to move on.”

The group was too late for the Cleveland Estate at 851 Young Ave., which was partially demolished in May before council could approve a moratorium on demolition.

Cunningham said changes to the land-use by-law to limit the size of properties to 80 square feet of frontage and a total area of 8,000 square feet would double the current cap, which would hopefully in turn help slow down the development in the area.

She said it wouldn’t be a complete fix, but would make it harder for developers to buy the property at a low price and then increase the density with a number of units, as is the current plan for the former Cleveland Estate, which is expected to be replaced with row houses.

As a resident, Cunningham said watching the homes come down around her over the past few years has been tough to stomach, changing the complexion of the neighbourhood forever.

“I feel like our street has been invaded,” she said, adding homes already demolished were important both architecturally and historically to Halifax, and instead of being razed, could have been used in conjunction with development.

Cunningham expects a good turnout for Wednesday’s meeting, scheduled to get underway at Spatz Theatre in Citadel High School at 7 p.m.

“I certainly hope so, because I think that would demonstrate to the city that people are in favour of this amendment and it’s probably the most expeditious way to protect the remaining homes because so many have been lost,” she said.

Planning staff are expected to be at Wednesday’s meeting to discuss the proposed changes and listen to public feedback.

The by-law is also being examined by the District 7 and 8 Planning Advisory Committee and more public hearings will be needed before a final decision on potential revisions can be made.