NSNDP

July 18th, 2017

Liberals should take action to secure future of Bloomfield site

HRM Council to vote on sale August 15

Halifax—Halifax Needham MLA Lisa Roberts is urging the provincial government to take action to ensure the Bloomfield site stays in public hands, and is developed in line with community priorities.

Halifax Regional Municipality Council will vote on the sale of the Bloomfield site, which has been used as a school, recreation centre and community space, on August 15.

“There has been extensive work done at the community level to explore possibilities for the future of Bloomfield,” said Roberts. “At the heart of these discussions have been the cultural and social priorities of North End Halifax residents.”

Under the previous NDP government, the Housing Nova Scotia successfully bid on the property when it was last for sale in 2012. The proposal was to build a development that would include 10,000 square feet of commercial market space targeted for the creative industries, 20,000 square feet of affordable community and cultural space, and 478 residential units, 40 per cent of which were to be allocated for affordable housing.

In May 2016, the Liberal government decided not to proceed with development of the Bloomfield site and HRM was able to keep the province’s $750,000 deposit.

Now, there is significant interest in the Bloomfield site as a possible location for a Junior High for the North End, as a peninsular school for the Acadian school board, as a community and cultural space, and as a location for affordable housing in a rapidly developing neighborhood.

“After four years of inaction, the province is now in a position to prevent Bloomfield from being sold for private development, and secure the site while its possible uses are explored,” said Roberts. “A timely intervention is critical if the site is going to continue to serve community interests.”

This week, a petition was launched by members of the Acadian community and Imagine Bloomfield to garner support for delaying the sale, among other demands.

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