The voting results from Tuesday, July 9, 2024, are a shameful outcome of a lack of vision and neglect. CTV news coverage.
The Halifax Public Memorial Library is under threat of demolition. The building is a cenotaph to those who fought for freedom and a place to remember the poor of Halifax. This issue is coming before Council for a vote on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. HRM Agenda. The time is now to use this civic building to create a community centre space where in the downtown we can have concerts, lectures and gather as a community and even do historical research. I worked vigilantly with heritage societies to have the property, including the building, registered.
The city must adhere to the Heritage Property Act. To demolish or alter the building in a major way would set a precedent that would say demolition by neglect and demolition of registered properties is okay. It’s not okay!
Available to read is the archaeological report.
As noted in the September 2021 declassified staff report the risk to HRM:
“RISK CONSIDERATION – The building envelope and its interior systems are at the end of their life cycle. Continued deferral of
maintenance and recapitalization work increases the liability and risk of holding a vacant building.
Demolition or deconstruction of the building without fully considering any possible alternatives that would
retain the property’s heritage value will bring into question the Municipality’s role and interest in heritage
conservation, which would cause some reputational damage to the municipal Heritage Property Program,
especially when dealing with other private owners of registered or potential heritage properties.
However, on balance—as taken against the heritage risks—potentially more profound risks relate to matters
of factual or perceived desecration of [held-sacred] Mi’kmaw remains if the building was to be recapitalized
for adaptive reuse, since any building rehabilitation would require interference with the surrounding
grounds. Any options considered by the CAO in response to recommendation #3 will consider this risk.”