Author Archives: FHC Editor

Join FHC’s Thursday Action to Stop Robie St Widening

Date: Thursday, November 20 
Rain date Friday Nov 21 
Times: noon – 1 pm & 4 – 5 pm
Place: Corner of Robie & Charles Streets
 
Action Update: People are slowly hearing about government plans to cut 80 Robie St trees but most don’t know about the plan to demolish 12-14 historic buildings.
 
Maybe government silos don’t even know we’re using $200m in public money to demolish 50-70 homes in the middle of a housing crisis, including a newly renovated 7-unit First Nations building.
So, we’ve planned a new action to help get the word out.
 
Help HRM Make Better Choices for Homes, Trees & Transit. 
We’ll bring signs, flyers, banners, corporate red ties & ❤️!
YOU bring staple guns, hammers, friends & the right attitude—Widening Robie is not going to happen!
 
Wider Roads Won’t Fix Traffic or Buses. Halifax / K’jupuk must not squander $200m to cut trees, destroy housing in exchange for more traffic. As fiscal, environmental & socio-economic stewards, our Mayor and Council have an obligation to implement and assess cheaper, faster options to improve transit that does not destroy our historic Robie St neighbourhood. Transit Priority Signals or Signalized Lane Changes like the MacDonald Bridge are what HRM should test out for Robie St for the short distance between North & Cunard. Then the $200m road widening budget can go to real transit priorities: buses, drivers, shelters, lower fare, micro-transit, public safety. And empty Robie St buildings can be repopulated and trees protected. 
 
Let us know if you can join us for Thursday’s Homes Not Highways Action. This is not a done deal.
Can’t join us? 
Sign our Petition: https://tinyurl.com/mryjv56w 
Send our letter to Councillors: https://tinyurl.com/5b9c66zj 
Show Halifax ❤️!  Planning for the future requires protecting the present.

Help Stop R❤️bie St Widening! Petition & Letter Stop Robie St Widening!

Help stop HRM’s $200m plan to demolish Robie Street’s last historic neighbourhood (North to Cunard). HRM Council needs to hear from you: Do Not Widen Robie St! Citizens strongly oppose this. 1. Sign the new Petition  + 2. Send this Letter  + 3. tell others + 4. print & distribute our updated Hands Off Robie flyer. HRM knows data shows even for public transit, road widening won’t reduce traffic.

Write to Stop Robie Street Widening. Help spread the word by circulating, printing, posting this poster.

Better Choices  ❤️ Better Transit! Spend public money on signalized lane changes (i.e. MacDonald Bridge, Chebucto Road, Herring Cove Rd); buses; ferries; drivers; lower fares; shelters; a Mumford Terminal; public safety. Protect 40-70 affordable homes in a unique historic neighbourhood of First Nations, youth shelters, co-ops, heritage, affordable housing, business. Save the 80 historic trees that slow traffic, reduce noise, calm drivers, clean air,  give shade & beauty. Remind HRM: it is not a done deal.
Ask friends & neighbours to: 
1. sign the petition, AND
2. send this letter to the Council
3. tells others  / use social media
4. print & distribute our updated Hands Off Robie flyer 
(1) HRM April 24th TSC Report estimates road construction for 2029 (ish) to be $170m but as costs have inflated at an extraordinary fate from $53m in 2022 to $73m in 2023 for land acquisition alone, FHC believes the construction cost will be closer to $200M. THIS DOES NOT seem to INCLUDE COSTS FOR BRT – ONLY ROAD WIDENING.

 

Sign Our Petition: Temporary Pop Up Wanderers Stadium Needs to Go!

Please sign FHC’s Petition to Save Our Wanderers’ Field! Here’s why! HRM Mayor, Council and staff persistently ignore our every effort to have the Wanderers Grounds amateur field remain fully available to and used by amateur players. Despite our June 9th FHC letter HRM Wanderers Stadium.pages to HRM Mayor, Council and Community Economic Development and Planning Committee with details on why they should not approve a permanent stadium on the Wanderers Ground a questionable* HRM staff Wanderers’ Block Functional Plan has moved HRM towards spending $75m-$93m on a permanent stadium on the Wanderers Grounds for the private-for-profit club that will never create any financial benefit.

Listen to this excellent interview with Todd Veinotte & Howard Epstein to learn about the situation and why its important for you to step up and sign the petition. (more info below.)

The Wanderers Grounds was used to full capacity by amateur players until HRM Mayor & Council gave it over to a private developer for his profit for $2400/game.

The Field was fully used by amateur players. HRM’s contract with Martin stated that the temporary stadium was to be removed at the end of each season but the Mayor and Council later agreed to remove that clause. Despite claims to the contrary the Field has been exclusively used by the for-profit team although HRM pays for field upgrades & maintenance. HRM recently bought Derek Martin’s used bleachers at in-camera council meeting. They won’t disclose the price.

It was disappointing that HRM staff’s Wanderers Block Functional Plan CPED presentation and report misled Councillors about there having been public consultation. FHC has consistently raised the problem of the Wanderers Grounds being excluded from public consultation during the Halifax Common Master Plan Consultation which began in 2018, just as HRM signed a contract with Derek Martin for a temporary pop-up stadium for his private professional for profit team.

Councillor Cuttel’s sensible questions and concerns at the CPED were also ignored. Councillor Mancini, who is not a member of the committee spoke as a big supporter of the stadium. Like supporter Becky Kent, he has ignored multiple requests by FHC to meet. Maybe you can remind Councillors and Staff that 130 studies show there is no economic benefit from investing public money in stadiums. And ask,,,how does Halifax imagine it will be different?

  • No public consultation; No legal right.

FHC AGM-Tues Oct 7, 6:30 – 8:45, Rm 301, Halifax Central Library

Join us for FHC’s AGM, 
Tues Oct 7, 6:30 – 8:45,
Rm 301, Halifax Central Library
 
 
The Wanderers Grounds : The State-of-Play
Guest Speaker: Howard Epstein 
 
As HRM Council begins its financial feasibility study for a $116 – $122 redevelopment of the Wanderers Block, mostly towards a permanent stadium, guest speaker, Howard Epstein will review the state-of-play for this area. Prior to Sports Atlantic taking over the Field for its private, for-profit, professional soccer team, the Field was 100% used by amateur players. Now HRM Council is working to spend public money for a permanent stadium, all without any public consultation or benefit. (details below)

The Halifax Common’s Wanderers Block includes the Public Garden’s Horticulture Facility, the Power House, the Wanderers Field, the Halifax Lancers, HRM’s Bell Road Depot and the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.

Howard Epstein, a lawyer, and a former member of city council, MLA, and adjunct professor at Dalhousie University’s Law School where he taught Land Use Planning Law. He is author of the 2017 legal text Land-Use Planning. He is a member of the Board of Friends of the Halifax Common.
 
FHC’s success depends on your engagement so please:
Sign the Petition to Save Our Wanderers Field: https://tinyurl.com/4ctcns2m
 
Sign & Write to Stop the $200m Robie St Widening  
 
Our success depends on your support. Please join, volunteer or become an FHC board member. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Activities Report – October 2024-October 2025:
Nov: Request meeting with Mayor Fillmore- hit redial, 
Nov: Great news, FHC receives charitable status + engages Canada Helps as interface. A big thank you for persisting to both Lawrence + Janet!
Feb: Submission on the Mayflower Factory Building- Better Ideas for better outcomes.
Feb: Submission on NS Government Proposed Changes to the Minimal Planning Requirements- Reject them
Feb: Letter: Dear Premier Houston- Do you know your government is buying & demolishing affordable housing on Robie St?
Feb: Letter: Dear HRM, Cancel the Robie St Widening, use lane changes, save $73m (forecast now ~$200) to create a uniform width Young – Cunard, nothing for transit.
March: Letter: Mayor Fillmore-We Worry About Our Meeting, Neighbourhood & Misinformation
April: Public Panel-Howard Epstein, Peggy Cameron, Jeff Karabanov, Frank Polermo on Robie St Widening, All Nations Church- over 100 in attendance all opposed.
April: Todd Veinotte interview with Peggy Cameron on Robie Street widening
April: Howard Epstein, Peggy Cameron meet with Andrew Crooks re QEII Redevelopment to discuss public consultation process lacking, especially with VG site; need for open space vs parking; transportation needs to go from private to public; Province needs to respect municipality; trees could have been saved on Bell Road; too much hospital centralization on peninsula 
May: Howard Epstein, Peggy Cameron present to HRM transportation committee
May: Howard Epstein, Peggy Cameron meet Mayor Fillmore re Robie 
May: FHC letter to Mayor Fillmore to reiterate wider Robie problems/better options
June: Letter to Mayor Fillmore + HRM Economic Development Development & Planning Standing Committee outlining the problems with the stadium proposal
June: Honour & Festooning Robie St Trees Welcome Summer Solstice/Save this tree
June: launch petition to Save Our Wanderers Field 
June: Todd Veinotte interview with Howard Epstein on HRM Economic Development Development & Planning Standing Committee moving stadium another step forward
September: Howard Epstein presents to HRM Transportation standing committee re Robie widening: HRM staff shifting rationale between Bus Rapid Transit (curb side pick up) or future commuter rail (central pick up) AND recent Ontario Court decision against Bill to remove bike lanes on constitutional grounds.
September: William Breckinridge & Peggy Cameron submit heritage designation applications for 6027 Williams St (demolition began before permit), as well as 2494, Robie, 2500 Robie, and 2514-15 Robie to HRM staff. Also letter requesting a Robie St streetscape. All are remarkable historic buildings.
September: letter to HRM heritage advisory standing committee asking that the four applications be expedited because of risk of demolition. 
September Letter to Brad Anguish, HAC Members, HRM Council requesting urgent meeting of HAC; HRM staff misinformation meant applications were not expedited.
September: Talk Truth & Reconciliation, Letter to Mayor and Council on First Nations’ newly renovated 7-unit building building at Charles/Robie to be demolished
Additional: Meetings were held between Peggy C & Howard Epstein with Councillors Hinch, Cuttell, Purdy, Hendsbee, Eaton, Hartling, Young, Austin, Smith. No response from Becky Kent, John St Amand, Tony Manccini despite multiple asks.
Meeting were also held with Friends of the Public Gardens and the Halifax Lancers.
On-going: Monthly meetings, communications: Email, Newsletter, Facebook, instagram, website. Thank you everyone!
A most sincere thank you to Janet Stevenson for all the work to interface between the BOD & webmaster and as treasurer, balancing the books, tax returns etc. We are very grateful for your every effort. A most sincere thank you to Sharon Ross for each of many efforts made for FHC and the larger community to protect the former Dr. Ligoure building and for continuing despite adversity.

 

 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?

September 29, 2025

Dear HRM Mayor Fillmore, Councillors and CAO,

Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation commemorates the children who died in the residential schools, supports Survivors, and calls for systemic change to create a healthier future for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. A Nov 2024 Point-in-Time (PiT) count found ~181 unhoused Indigenous people in HRM. That is 16% of HRM’s total of 1,132 homeless individuals. That is an extreme overrepresentation of Indigenous people who are only 3.8% of the HRM population.

The apartment building pictured here is at Charles and Robie Streets. It has seven newly, extensively renovated homes that housed seven First Nations families. Government recently used public money to buy the building to demolish it. The building now sits empty.

2536 Robie St, newly renovated 7-unit First Nations Apartment Building. Purchased by government for demolition.

The demolition is part of a $200m plan to purchase to demolish 12-14 buildings in the short section from North St to south of Charles St to widen Robie St to add a 2nd bus lane. Data shows widening roads, even for public transit does not reduce traffic or congestion. Overhead bidirectional signals are a simple cheap solution to optimize transit and protect 50 to 70 homes and 80 trees. 

Of the 94 calls for action for Truth and Reconciliation-none conform with your evicting, displacing and demolishing First Nations’ homes. This plan is unnecessary, harmful and must be stopped. Repopulate this and other empty buildings. 

Work to create a healthier future for Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.

Yours truly, 
Peggy Cameron
Friends of Halifax Common

Re: Urgent request for Emergency Meeting of Heritage Advisory Committee

September 26, 2025
Attention: Mr. Brad Anguish, HRM CAO, HAC and HRM Council

Dear Mr. Anguish, HAC Members, HRM Council

Re: Urgent request for Emergency Meeting of the Heritage Advisory Committee

I write on behalf of Friends of Woodill to request an emergency meeting of the HAC be convened at the earliest possible time. Friends of Woodill, representing the North Common district recently submitted two petitions for consideration at the Sept 24 meeting to request that third-party applications for HRM heritage designation for five properties be expedited.

  • The September 19 petition supported advancing the application for 6027 Williams to protect the historic home from demolition and work to preserve the beautiful streetscape of Williams St which is a fundamental element along the North Common. 
  • The September 21 petition supported adding three grand Halifax buildings south of Charles Street —2494, 2500, 2514/2516 Robie Street and 5816 North Street at the corner of Robie, next to the former home / clinic of Dr Ligoure, the first NS Licensed Black Medical doctor. All have unique architecture and associated histories worthy of heritage registration.

A motion to advance the applications should have been considered under an item added to the HAC meeting agenda. Due to improper procedure based on incorrect information from HRM staff, the HRM HAC did not act on two petitions.

The Heritage Property Act gives HRM the authority, under the Heritage Property Act, to stop demolition of the subject buildings. HRM staff information to the HAC that a demolition permit for 6027 William’s Street was being processed incorrectly ruled out HAC discussion and motion to expedite consideration of the Robie Street and Williams Street applications. That demolition application permit was submitted subsequent to the Heritage Application. And the information led to all five applications being similarly treated.

The petitions requesting that the third-party registrations be expedited were readily supported by HRM residents and each, within 3-4 days garnered broad support. To my knowledge no person when asked refused to sign them. This ready endorsement represents broad public sentiment towards the loss of HRM built environment at this time.

The applications for each of the buildings are effectively complete. The research/preparation represents hundreds of hours of volunteer time; work undertaken because all of the properties are at risk of demolition. That the evaluation of the applications is URGENT was emphasized to HRM staff in correspondence and phone calls. Please work with the HAC to remedy this incorrect process and ensure that the applications are advanced as quickly as possible.

Thank you.

Peggy Cameron, for Friends of Woodill

Widening Mayor Fillmore’s Robie Street Info

Howard Epstein and Peggy Cameron’s May 21 meeting with Mayor Fillmore was a very important opportunity to raise the multitude of reasons as to why HRM must stop further expenditures on the Robie St widening; repopulate the buildings that have been or will be purchased and emptied; employ any of the various better, cheaper options for prioritizing transit that do not involve demolitions or cutting trees and road widening.

Overall the project has an extreme lack of rigour or analyses that one would expect for such an extraordinary expenditure with regard to its impact, objectives, alternatives, outcome. There is simply not a case to justify pursuing it.

* There is no need to widen the street from three lanes to four for a second bus lane;
* HRM has no legal obligation to pursue the previous Council’s decision for any number of reasons;
*The road widening plan was adopted without the cost being known and it is rapidly inflating;
*The costs, now likely $200m is not equated with any known or projected time savings for either buses or private vehicles;
*Transit may be accommodated and prioritized through alternatives such as overhead bi-directional signals for lane changes like on the MacDonald Bridge with money savings going to buses, salaries, terminals, shelters, public safety, lowered fares, micro-transit;
*The proposed demolition of affordable housing involves dozens of good quality units in a time of economic precarity, a housing crisis, climate crisis and a labour and materials shortage;
*The plan to cut 80 historic street trees, many dating back to the 1860s or 70s ignores their significant environmental importance and that they can never be replaced;
*The plan puts undue pressure on the neighbourhood a unique community of small scale, multi-unit buildings with some single family homes with a uniquely high concentration of co-ops, First Nations, youth shelters with in the designated Woodill heritage conservation district;
*The proposed widening is strongly unpopular with residents;

Maintaining the neighbourhood status quo is both necessary and relatively easy. The Mayor and Council must not demolish the existing housing; refrain from cutting down existing trees; rent the housing to tenants; and direct HRM staff to work within the constraints of the existing road allowance.
For other details please see the May 27, 2025 followup letter to Mayor Fillmore.

Telling It Like It Is — HRM’s Transportation Committee

On May 21 Howard Epstein and Peggy Cameron presented to HRM’s Transportation Standing Committee to update them on the Public Panel on the Robie St widening. If you missed the meeting watch the 5 minute presentations to find out more here, (Begins at 55:30.)

(May 7, 2025) Over 100 residents attend a public panel with Howard Epstein, Peggy Cameron, Frank Polermo & emcee Jeff Karabanow to learn about HRM’s intention to Robie St widening.

Todd Veinotte & Peggy Cameron: What’s Up With Robie St?

FHC’s recent public panel with Howard Epstein, Frank Palermo, Peggy Cameron & emcee Jeff Karabanow had over 100 residents who learned learn about HRM’s $200m project to widen Robie St for a 2nd bus lane. Bottom line? It’s outdated, expensive, destructive, ineffective, ignores cheaper options, is not a plan & will not fly. Listen to Todd Veinotte’s interview with Peggy Cameron then write clerks@halifax.ca — “Stop spending public money to wreck Robie! Get people moved back into homes you’ve bought & emptied, don’t cut the trees, stop spending money on the widening and use cheaper options like lane changes like the MacDonald Bridge.“

Mayor Fillmore-We Worry About Our Meeting, Neighbourhood & Misinformation

Writing on behalf of FHC and Robie St residents, Peggy Cameron and Howard once again ask Mayor Fillmore for a meeting. The first request was on November 4th 2024 with multiple follow up inquiries.

We worry that details on HRM’s plan to spend at least $75m to acquire property and demolish buildings to widen Robie Street for a bus lane are not fully vetted with residents or Council. The plan from 2018 or 2019 needs to be re-examined for its merit and to reassess using scarce public money to wreck our Robie Street neighbourhood from North to Cunard Streets. (Map details: https://shorturl.at/tCDHU ) 

Recent email communication from Councillor Cleary to residents continues to confuse or mislead. We worry other Councillors may also be unaware of misinformed. We again clarify why the Mayor & Council must optimize spending public money on reallocating existing road space, more buses, more drivers with better salaries, lower fares, better public safety and services such as bus shelters with seats and sidewalks and trees for shade and comfort. And stop the plan to wreck our Robie St neighbourhood.
Details below
Continue reading →

HRM -Cancel Robie St Widening & Save $73m

FHC has written to HRM to cancel its Robie St widening plan and save $73m. That’s HRM’s budget to buy property, demolish buildings and cut 80 trees for a bus lane. But data shows, even for public transportation, widening roads does not reduce traffic congestion. Instead demolishing dozens of

Widening roads for public transportation does not reduce traffic. Photo:Tim Krochak/Herald

small-scale affordable units and cutting 80 trees for a plan that won’t work, HRM should use signalized lane changes i.e. MacDonald Bridge or Chebucto Road. 
The historic Robie St neighbourhood has a concentration of First Nations, housing co-ops, youth shelters, new Canadians, small businesses. As HRM has no obligation to proceed with the previous Council’s plan, stopping the plan to wreck this community should be an easy decision.
 See details in FHC’s letter here: FHC 2025 HRM Council, Robie St FOIPOP.pages

Dear Premier Houston-Do You Know Your Government is Buying & Demolishing Affordable Housing?

 

Premier Houston takes steps to address. (photo credit: 989 XFM)


Dear Premier Houston,
(Feb 23, 2025) We’re writing to ask if you know that the NS Department of Public Works is spending an estimated $18 million in public money to buy at least 10 multi-unit buildings on Robie Street to tear down? This is at the behest of HRM which intends to widen Robie Street for a bus lane.

Data shows that even for public transportation, widening roads will not relieve traffic congestion; traffic levels will remain (status quo) or more traffic will be induced.

HRM also intends to cut 80 mature street trees (known to calm drivers and traffic). Many are over 100 years old and will never be replaced. In total, the Robie Street widening affects 90 properties. The acquisition budget for the properties is extraordinary: $55million (2024), $75million (2024), unknown in 2025.

Residents have long advocated for the reallocation of existing road space with signalized lanes changes like the MacDonald Bridge or Chebucto Road. These are a faster, cheaper, effective, more equitable ways to prioritize transit and reduce traffic in many cities (London, Zurich, Paris, Montreal) and countries (Brazil, Italy, Japan).

The small scale rental buildings to be demolished contain dozens of affordable units. Impacted residents have no place to go. The community is unusually diverse- housing co-ops, First Nations, Youth Shelters, new Canadians, low income earners. Right now HRM has 1130 unhoused (AHANS, Feb 12) and12,000 vacant lots (HRM 2024)

As a former accountant you can agree that in this time of economic, social, environmental precarity provincial and municipal governments should not spend public money to destroy the very things we need to protect. As budget deliberations proceed this is the time to stop this wasteful expenditure. We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours truly, 


Peggy Cameron and Howard Epstein, 
Friends of Halifax Common
Cc: Leaders of Opposition, Minister Municipal Affairs, Minister of Treasury Board