‘A long time coming,’ as Schmidtville Heritage Conservation District approved
Posted Jul 21, 2018 05:31:00 PM.
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It's been 10 years since Friends of Schmidtville was formed as a reaction to a proposed development not wanted by some residents in the south end neighbourhood.
“A year later we applied for this heritage conservation district,” said group spokesperson and professor emeritus at Saint Mary's University, Larry Haiven.
Nine years later, council has voted unanimously to approve that designation.
“It protects the 5.76 hectares of these older homes from development that we don't want,” explained Haiven. “If it's going to be developed, it's going to be developed in a way we want to reflect the heritage nature of the neighbourhood.”
Schmidtville is comprised of 5 or 6 blocks south of Spring Garden from Queen St. to South Park.
“It was the first … area that was developed outside of the garrison of Halifax, and of course now it's an integral part of downtown.”
Haiven hopes more neighbourhoods in the municipality will be granted the designation so residents have control over upcoming developments.
“One of the ways we achieve affordable housing in Halifax and a mix of walkability is to save older neighbourhoods and not tear them down,” he said.
