Public Service Announcement

City Hall restoration continues: Portion of Grand Parade

to be fenced off during construction

(Thursday, May 3, 2012) – The next phase of work to restore HRM’s historic Second Empire style City Hall gets underway next week, necessitating fencing and some reduction in access points to the Grand Parade.

Initial work in this phase, expected to begin Monday, May 7, will include an excavation under the front steps to reset them; restoration of the concrete and ironstone in the dry moat at the front of the building; and, removal of topsoil covering the roof of the former stable (now an electrical supply) under the Grand Parade to access and replace the stable’s deteriorating roof.

Halifax City Hall is a national historic site, designated in 1987 by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. To date, restoration work has focused on the restoration of the sandstone-faced exterior masonry walls along Argyle Street, a portion of Duke Street and the front of the building.

Approximately $4.1 million has been spent to date, which includes $1.13 million in funding from the Canada Nova Scotia Infrastructure Stimulus Program. In March, Council approved the award of tender in the amount of $1.6 million for phase three work.

The nature of the work and the need to locate heavy equipment on site requires the erection of safety fencing, beginning Friday, extending into the Grand Parade as far as the opposite end of the cul-de-sac in front of City Hall. Signage will be posted to indicate Grand Parade entrance and exit points for persons with disabilities and, as a temporary measure until improvements can be made to existing alternative entrance and exit points, security will be available to assist persons with disabilities in using the Argyle Street pathway as necessary.

The side door of City Hall on Argyle Street will continue to be the public entrance to City Hall while this work is done.

Tunes at Noon will continue in the Grand Parade, with the construction work to stop during the lunchtime performances.

Phase three work also includes exterior restoration work to the Barrington Street side of the building. The Duke Street side will be restored in phase four. Further project updates will be provided as this work proceeds.

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Contact:

Shaune MacKinlay
HRM Corporate Communications
490-6531
mackins@halifax.ca