HALIFAX - Calling all block party enthusiasts in North End Halifax! You are cordially invited to join other members of your community for a brainstorming session on turning a few fantastic North End streets into car-free zones for the day.  This will be an informal, knowledge-sharing meeting with the intention of getting the ball rolling on block party organization for this upcoming summer season. WHAT: Block Party Series Brainstorming Session WHERE: Bloomfield Centre - Room 208 (2786 Agricola Street) WHEN: Monday May 10th 7PM photo by Katie ...

HALIFAX - Spacing Atlantic contributors are hosting a Jane's Walk in Halifax this upcoming Saturday May 1st. Come join us as we wander the urban space, ponder the changes we face, and help to set the pace. The general theme of the Halifax walk is change, transformation, and transition — the downtown is in limbo and we want to muse about it. Meet us on Lower Water St outside the Farmers' Market at noon, as we set off to investigate an urban landscape in flux. Jane’s Walk honours the ...

This piece of paper was found outside of the George Dixon Centre. HALIFAX - This past Saturday, the Africville Genealogy Society announced that Halifax Regional Municipality has offered a three million dollar compensation package to the former community of Africville.  Yesterday the federal government contributed an additional $250,000 towards the creation of the Africville Heritage Trust. Africville, a small community settled in ...

HALIFAX - Last Wednesday January 20th, HRM staff presented the plan “Improvements to the North Common” [PDF] to a full house, where there were more people in attendance than there were chairs. The presentation of the plan lasted an hour, and although only 30 minutes was set aside for input from the public, the question period ended up continuing for over an hour and a half, until only a handful of people were left in the room. In this new century, we are facing a different kind of threat to public space— not one of disuse, but of patterns of design and management that exclude some people and reduce social and cultural diversity. - Rethinking Urban Parks: Public Space & Cultural Diversity There was clear support for certain aspects of the plan that fostered walkability, safety and passive enjoyment of the park, which include wider pathways, a redesigned fountain, diverse seating and an increase in trees in the park. The debate that ensued was not centered around the fact that the City is proposing improvements to the Common - that point was well-received and echoed by those in attendance. The more controversial elements of the proposed plan were those that cater to the facilitation of concerts: the removal of a baseball diamond in the southeast corner, a 'special events plaza', and a permanent power supply housed in a new building proposed for development.

HALIFAX - This past Saturday, the corner of Hollis and Morris was once again the city's epicenter of perverse entertainment. An impromptu post-market crowd of witnesses gathered to to watch the Victoria Apartments be demolished, one wall at a time; revealing its bright colours, arched doorways and quirky interiors one last time. Some people cheered as the bulldozer tore down the apartments, while others tried to hide their tears. Former residents pointed out their bedrooms and shared stories. Photographers had a field day. I tried to leave on three separate occasions, frozen and exhausted, but couldn't ...

HALIFAX - For nearly a decade, the parking lot at Lower Water and Morris streets has been the headquarters of one the city's most unique and unregulated cultural spaces. During the weekday, permit holders park their cars in the sunken pit.  In its off-hours, it has hosted a multitude of unsanctioned activities. On the weekend, a regular crowd plays street hockey, and at night, car enthusiasts gather there to compare engines. The green space that surrounds the parking lot serves as an unofficial park; a place for people to hang out and for the homeless to sleep. It has been the backdrop for countless music videos and photo shoots, and a battling ground for freestylers. The most evident feature of this unique pseudo-public space is the wall that encapsulates the parking lot that operates as a dynamic open-air gallery for graffiti artists. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="The Pit: parking lot and former legal wall. NSP offices under construction in the background."][/caption] Up until very recently, the pit was considered a legal wall (or 'free wall') — the only place in the city where graffiti artists could freely practice their skills without fearing arrest. Since September, this freedom has been revoked. Without any formal communication to the artist community or surrounding neighbours, police began to crack down on graffiti activity in the pit, telling artists they were unwelcome and that what they were doing was illegal. What gives?  What changed?

HALIFAX - On the southeast corner of Hollis Street and Morris Street, in the South End of Halifax, a historically-significant set of buildings characterize the area. During the 200+ years that it has stood on this storied site, it has housed a hotel, an all-boys private boarding school, a rooming house, a rumoured brothel, and in recent years, an affordable place to live downtown on a month-to-month lease. Although some people have referred to the dilapidated grey building as an eyesore, even an ‘urban blight’ - there are many who regard this landmark with fondness. Differences of opinion aside, the building itself is as unique as they come. Every apartment is different from the last, equipped with century-old sinks, clawfoot tubs, brick and marble fireplaces, loft spaces, weathered wooden floors, grandiose arched doorways and quirky crawl spaces. Not to mention its most recognizable feature; the wrap-around verandah which serves as the focal point of interaction between the street and the building. photographs by Scott Munn