Save the View from Citadel Hill

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Petition to the Nova Scotia Government

Dear Premier Dexter:

We the undersigned draw the attention of the Provincial Government to the following:
That a convention centre and associated 14 and 18-storey towers proposed on two blocks in downtown Halifax would block the view of the centre harbour and Georges Island from Halifax Citadel National Historic Park.

800,000 people visit the Citadel each year and spend $50 million in the downtown. In 2007 the Citadel was voted Top Wonder of Halifax and 93\% of HRM residents said they visit Citadel Hill. Now free for everyone, the view would be sold to private interests to be appreciated only by those who occupy the buildings.

There are 17 better places to put a convention centre where it would not block the view.

A public survey held on May 31, 2009 showed that 91\% of those polled oppose the construction of the towers.

THEREFORE your petitioners call upon the Government of Nova Scotia not to provide public funds for a development that would block the view of the centre harbour and Georges Island from Halifax Citadel National Historic Park. Please do not give public money towards the privatization of the view.

657 Signatures

  • Liz MacDougall
    • Comments
    • keep Halifax beautiful
  • Marie Koehler
    • Comments
    • Most of the views of the harbour are now privileged due to poor planning which favours the elite. At least save this one..
  • Thomas Elliott
  • shelley fashan
    • Comments
    • This priceless natural view is worth saving
  • Lynsey Meisner
  • Theresa Thomas
    • Comments
    • It would be a travesty to undermine or ignore our treasured View Planes legislation!
  • Emily Donelan
    • Comments
    • CAN HALIFAX BE DIFFERENT. CAN WE HAVE A 'LONGTERM VIEW?' A VIEW OR OURSELVES THAT STICKS UP FOR BEAUTY AS A TANGIBLE GOOD FOR ALL? ESPECIALLY VISITORS? GIVE BEAUTY A CHANCE! SAVE THE VIEW
  • Rebecca Singer
    • Comments
    • В
  • Jake Feldman
    • Comments
    • В
  • Mynah Meagher
  • stephanie oliver
    • Comments
    • В
  • Ben Gallagher
    • Comments
    • Please respect what it means to be elected by the public, and maintain the free and beautiful dimensions of Halifax for everyone who lives and visits here
  • Eryn Foster
    • Comments
    • please save our view!
  • Daniel Espeset
  • Neal Livingston
  • elizabeth feldman
    • Comments
    • В
  • Jennifer Tilley
    • Comments
    • II always thought tthe view from the Citadel was protected by law?
  • Gwen Davies
    • Comments
    • NOT standing in the way of progress -- asking for progress to move forward thoughtfully, considering the whole.
  • Carole MacDonald
  • Anita Price
    • Comments
    • Time to step up and change the mindset - heritage assets not heritage liabilities.
  • Heather O'Brien
    • Comments
    • This building is against the economic and cultural interests of the city and province.
  • Lynne and Madeline FitzGerald
    • Comments
    • I moved here from Montreal in the 70s because Halifax had the same feel as Montreal, good theatre and music. A very civilized place. It had beautiful historic buildings and the harbour was much more accessable. My how things have changed! For God's sake stop tearing this city to pieces just to line the pockets of a few developers who couldn't care less about our history. Why do the tourists come here?? Because of it's historic significance stupid so stop trying to turn us into another Toronto. There is room to build here. Leave the history alone! PLEASE do yourself a favour and go up to Citadel Hill to see the view. I wonder if these money hungry developers have ever been up there?? DOUBTFUL.
  • Gary Campbell
  • Norman H Hadley
    • Comments
    • The landscape around the fortress evokes positive feelings. The view of the surrounding area does the same. At present, the setting touches the human soul. Let's make sure that it continues to do this.
  • Julie McCarroll
    • Comments
    • В
  • Susanne Wise
  • Carroll Godsman
    • Comments
    • The view from Citadel Hill is one of the most enjoyable things about Downtown Halifax. Please, let it remain so.
  • Brian MacNeish
  • Barb Lall
  • Paulette Raymond
  • Kathryn Fraser
  • MJ Sakurai
  • Colleen MacIsaac
  • marguerite Knisely
    • Comments
    • This is so totally stupid, I'm stumped for words. It's just ignorant. M.Knisely
  • Janet Morris
    • Comments
    • Actually, I support working towards a panoramic view of the harbour from the Hill.
  • Linda Forbes
  • Frank Chandler
    • Comments
    • Pretty soon the view from the Citadel will look like any other city! Save the uniqueness!!
  • Hugh J Church
  • Beth Keech
    • Comments
    • Did you hear world-renowned Dr. Tony Tung in Halifax last week - "You're ruining this beautiful city!" What makes Halifax unique - office towers - I don't think so.
  • Dr Caroline Scott
    • Comments
    • I persoally have been extremely concerned about the ease with which developers are able to get what they wish with developments agreements and also the lack of acceptance by the city and the province of the importance of the history of this wonderful city. The core should be preserved as are cores in European cities and some US cities who seem to have more concience than the powers that be here. I could add a lot more but will leave that for another time.
  • Margaret Matthews
  • Joan Dawson
    • Comments
    • If the developer is unable or unwilling to come up with a lower rise design, he should be asked to relocate the convention centre to a different site.
  • Frances Gregor
  • Mary M. Schaefer
    • Comments
    • Our harbour view belongs to everyone who climbs Citadel Hill on foot, in taxi or tour bus, on skis, in private vehicle, on a bike. Once hidden it is gone forever.
  • david a murphy
    • Comments
    • we don't want to be a Houston
  • Marni Gent
    • Comments
    • I read on another old Canadian town's site "Aged to perfection!". We should feel the same pride for OUR unique city & a lot of us do...but it is painfully clear that the Halifax developers do not. What does a country's history matter to people who only care to create their OWN history? Time for our new NDP government to make a stand!
  • Alan Ruffman
    • Comments
    • The staff of the Halifax Regional Council injected the two-tower option after the formal public hearing on HRM By Design and without putting any diagrams in front of Council to show the effects of the two towers. One of these towers is virtually exactly the tower that the UARB rejected in the Midtown Tavren decision.. Further the Council of HRM with their staffs concurence have put themselves and the Province in an absolutely stupid "Catch 22" situation on the towers. They are approved if thye developer can get government money to subsidise the circa two-storey Convention Centre so if the Province decides that it wishes to subsidise the Convention Centre even to the very modest degree it did for the four-pad ice facility proposed for Bedford , it then unleases the truly unwanted two towers. There are any number of site in downtown Halifax that are sitting as vacant parking lots in downtown Halifax (at least 10 that I can real off) that can all take a commercial office bldg without privatising the view!!
  • Jill Sutherland
    • Comments
    • Height restrictions should be adhered to, I do not understand why we have a restriction and then break the regulation, both in Dartmouth and Halifax!! Please do not allow building to go to such a height as to break the requirment to remain below the maximum feet!!!
  • Arthur A. Irwin
    • Comments
    • We atre taking away another importat important piece of Halifax. Very soon, we will no longer be an attraction to tourists. We have a very unique city and we must stay attractive.
  • karen miller
    • Comments
    • we can have wonderful and unique buildings without them obstructing the view just think outside the box. we do not need to be like every other city.