News Release

Sloane Says Board, Consultants Ignoring Residents, Design Goals

(Thursday, February 21/08)-- Downtown Halifax Councillor Dawn Sloane accused the Halifax Regional School Board and its consultants of targeting schools for closure on the peninsula and ignoring the pleas of local residents, as well as population forecast information provided by HRM by Design.

The District 12 Councillor said the need for neighbourhood schools is apparent in the HRM by Design's Five Campaigns for a Great City. They include A Sustainable City;
A City of Liveable and Complete Neighbourhoods; A Distinct and Unique City; A City of Vibrant and Exciting Places; and A Beautiful City

As stated on the HRM BY DESIGN WEB SITE: "In a neighbourhood, everything that is needed is there and everything that is there is needed".
-Lewis Mumford

A City of Liveable and Complete Neighbourhoods

Ensuring a high quality of life for existing and future residents is about creating identifiable neighbourhoods that are walkable and appealing which provide the necessary services and amenities to support a sense of community. Complete neighbourhoods accommodate a diverse population, offer places to gather, and ensure schools and transit are within waking distance.

An urban design strategy should seek to maintain and enhance existing healthy and stable neighbourhoods. Growth and development in these areas should fit harmoniously by reinforcing the prevailing scale and built character of the neighbourhood.

Many neighbourhoods in the Regional Centre have experienced a significant decline in population and quality of life over the last fifty years. Well-designed residential intensification affords the only likely opportunity to revitalize these areas. Repopulating and intensifying the Regional Centre will provide the critical density necessary for the vitality of all neighbourhoods, whereby retail streets, transit, schools and other essential amenities and services remain viable.

Councilor Sloane said the consultant's recommendation to close four peninsular schools " is an affront to the work the citizens and members of the Urban Design Task Force. We have been working diligently on the re-population of the peninsula, and this announcement is totally contradictory to making the peninsula liveable, walkable, with complete neighbourhoods."

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Councillor Dawn Marie Sloane
488-4812
sloaned@halifax.ca