NEWS RELEASE

$900,000 in Funding Approved for Barrington Street

(Friday, February 12, 2010) - The Barrington Street Heritage District got a vote of confidence this week when Halifax Regional Council approved more than $900,000 in financial incentives for the area.

“It’s encouraging to see opportunities to revitalize Barrington Street as a focus of retail, commercial and cultural activity,” says Mayor Peter Kelly. “This funding is essential to making the aesthetic enhancements that are so vitally important to the image of the district and the attractiveness of the street.”

The funding was awarded to the first three renovation projects to apply under the new Barrington Street Heritage District Incentives Program. The total estimated financial incentives, including grants, tax credits and fee waivers for those projects are as follows:

Freemasons Hall building - $299,911
Green Lantern building - $603,798
Colwell building - $10,309

Under HRMbyDesign, HRM’s landmark urban design plan approved by Council in June 2009, the Barrington Street Heritage Conservation District Revitalization Plan aims to encourage conservation, restoration and commercial revitalization of Barrington Street’s historic buildings, streetscapes and public spaces.

“We hope these grant approvals will restore confidence in property owners and provide them with the incentive to invest in the rehabilitation and enhancement of the Barrington Heritage District,” says Andy Fillmore, HRM's Urban Design Project Manager. “This work marks the beginning of the long awaited Barrington Street revival, affirming it as a unique destination in the Region, the Province and beyond.”

For more information on HRMbyDesign and the Barrington Street Heritage Conservation District Revitalization Plan, visit: http://www.halifax.ca/capitaldistrict/RegionalCentreUrbanDesignStudy.html

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Contact:
Mayor Peter Kelly
490-4010

Andy Fillmore,
HRM Project Manager, Urban Design
490-6495