Open house for construction mitigation in downtown Halifax goes Monday
Posted Apr 18, 2016 06:12:22 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – It’s no secret that downtown construction in Halifax has been a pain for local business and on Monday, residents and business owners will get a chance to provide feedback on new construction mitigation guidelines.
Loud noises, debris, street closures and a lack of parking are among some of the complaints that local businesses have had against construction in the downtown core, particularly since construction began on the new Nova Centre.
Paul MacKinnon, executive director of the Downtown Halifax Business Commission, believes the root of the issue lies with a lack of overall communication.
“There’s no reason for us to expect that people in the construction business understand the challenges of a small business, same as the small business doesn’t understand the challenges a construction company faces,” MacKinnon said, adding he hopes the two can work closely together moving forward.
HRM had asked local construction firms to put together mitigation plans to look into how they can help solve issues like pedestrian access, parking and reducing the amount of dust and dirt ahead of the upcoming summer construction season.
MacKinnon is confident have a public discussion will help make a more manageable plan for businesses than what is currently in place right now.
“At the end of the day, regardless of what the policies require, if we can just do a better job building relationships through these projects, I think that’s going to be the big difference,” MacKinnon said.
The public open house takes place on Monday from noon until 6 p.m. at Dalhousie University’s Ralph Medjuck Building’s exhibition room.
