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