Hydrostone Market removed from new business district
Posted Jul 8, 2011 07:14:16 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The man who helped bring the newly created north-end business improvement district to fruition is accusing Halifax Regional Council of “narrow thinking.”
Council formally endorsed the new commercial improvement zone during its weekly meeting Tuesday, but voted to exclude the Hydrostone shopper area at the suggestion of Coun. Jerry Blumenthal (Halifax North End).
“I think what goes on is some narrow thinking,” Bernie Smith said on the Rick Howe Show Thursday. “And we’re trying to think more broadly. I think this whole city has suffered from this problem of narrow thinking.”
Smith says north-end property owners voted 66 per cent in favour of the new business improvement district and says council is wrong to alter the proposal.
“This is why council has so much problem getting through its agendas and coming to decisions because everyone is looking after their little piece and they’re not looking at the whole entity,” he said.
Blumenthal told council the original district was too large and the various communities were “too different.”
Apparently it was only one business owner in the Hydrostone market which wanted to opt out, but the entire market as well as two businesses at the end were also excluded from the zone.
“Those end properties that was taken out, one of those properties is owned by someone who was going to be on our board,” said Smith.
Council’s decision was made even though Smith said other businesses in the market were excited about being included.
Smith said the district will discuss the issue at its first board meeting on Monday.
