Halifax’s historic buildings and streetscapes are an important part of what makes Halifax special. These heritage assets are a major part of what draws so many people to live and visit here. Historic buildings also offer much more affordable housing compared to newly constructed buildings. And the preservation and reuse of historic buildings has significant environmental benefits – keeping  thousands of tonnes of demolition waste out of the landfills, and producing far lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to new construction. 

Yet despite all of these economic, social and environmental benefits, historic buildings in Halifax are being demolished at a pace not seen since the 1970s, during the now discredited urban regeneration movement. If this destruction doesn’t stop soon, it will be too late!  

Without a doubt, Halifax needs more housing and a more efficient transportation system. However, growth and heritage preservation are not mutually exclusive. There are many, much more dense cities in the world that manage to accommodate growth and have effective transit systems without destroying the heritage assets that make those cities unique. Why can’t Halifax?

The signatories of this petition demand that our municipal and provincial governments do more to protect Halifax’s historic buildings and streetscapes. 

A.    We ask that HRM undertake the following immediate actions:

1.     Request the Province update the Heritage Property Act, including:

• Removing Section 18 of the Act, which allows for the demolition of a registered heritage building after a two-year waiting period, an allowance that does not exist in any other province.
• Creating a pause provision on specific types of development while conservation plans and bylaws are prepared for Heritage Conservation Districts or Cultural Landscapes.
• Prohibiting demolition of potential heritage assets to protect them from demolition while applications for heritage designation are being considered.
• Increasing fines for illegal demolition of designated heritage properties.

2.     Require property owners to have a building permit in place before granting a permit to demolish existing residential properties.

3.     Introduce an empty lot tax for properties where owners have demolished existing residential units. 

4.     Create new Land-use By-Laws that incentivize the retention and adaptive reuse of existing buildings over demolition.

5.     Introduce preferential property tax rates and reduce other municipal fees for registered heritage properties.

6.     Increase municipal heritage incentives for heritage property owners. 

7.     Expedite and prioritize the evaluation of existing heritage applications; the creation of already proposed Heritage Conservation Districts; and the creation of additional Heritage Conservation Districts.

B.    We ask that the Province of Nova Scotia undertake the following immediate actions:

1.     Update the Heritage Property Act, including:

• Removing Section 18 of the Act, which allows for the demolition of a registered heritage building after a two-year waiting period, an allowance that does not exist in any other province.
• Creating a pause provision on specific types of  development while conservation plans and by-laws are prepared for Heritage Conservation Districts or Cultural Landscapes.
• Prohibiting demolition of potential heritage assets to protect them from demolition while applications for heritage designation are being considered.
• Increasing fines for illegal demolition of designated heritage properties.

2.     Grant HRM the authority to discourage the demolition of historic buildings and the affordable housing units they contain, by permitting municipal units to:

• Require property owners to have a building permit in place before demolishing existing residential properties.
• Introduce an empty lot tax where owners have demolished existing residential units. 

3.     Enable HRM to introduce a preferential property tax rate for registered heritage buildings.