St. Pat’s-Alexandra fight not over: community groups
Posted Jan 25, 2012 04:49:20 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
North end residents say they are considering their options – which may include legal action – following a decision by Halifax Regional Council to sell the former St. Patrick’s-Alexandra school to a private developer.
A coalition of community groups and their supporters wanted council to grant them 90 days in which to present a business case to retain the former St. Patrick’s-Alexandra School for their use.
Instead, council has voted to move ahead with the sale to Jono Developments Inc. and repeal the policy that requires community consultation before putting property on the market.
Residents who came to Tuesday’s lengthy debate say they are not standing by while the city breaks it’s own rules – and then changes the rules to make the vote legal.
“We wouldn’t have come this far if we were simply prepared to sit in council chambers and accept the decision,” said Jane Moloney, executive director of the North End Community Health Centre. “They haven’t followed their own process. The application of the decision to repeal the policy applies to the future. My understanding is it doesn’t apply to the past.”
Moloney says she and her colleagues have consulted a lawyer, but haven’t decided to pursue legal action.
Joe Metlege, president of Jono Developments, told reporters after the meeting that he was satisifed with the outcome.
“It has gone the way it should have gone. I think council made the right decision,” he said.
Metlege told News 95.7 earlier this week that he would have taken legal action if his deal had fallen through.
“I would have had to explore all of our options and that certainly was one of them,” he said, pointing to hundreds of thousands of dollars and other development oportunities lost due to delays.
The school is currently home to St. Joseph’s Children’s Centre. The health centre as well as the MicMac Native Friendship Centre had called on council to keep the school for the groups to use as new homes.
Moloney says the group only wanted the time to explore the possible uses for the site, as required by the municipality’s policy.
“This is an opportunity for us to regroup and consider what our next steps are,” she said. “The fight’s not over.”
Metlege says he is still open to working with the community groups to shape the proposed development.
