Imagine Bloomfield says they aren’t surprised the Bloomfield site in north end Halifax will sit empty and undeveloped for a while.
Councillors voted 14-3 Tuesday evening in favour of waiting until the Centre Plan is complete before selling the property. Waiting for the plan will make the eventual sale and development process shorter.
“We’ve been working with HRM and [the] province for close to a dozen years. We expect to move at pace of government, which unfortunately is slower than we want. It’s going to be slow but we’re hopeful and optimistic it’s going to be done right,” said Imagine Bloomfield board member Ron Skibbens.
The province pulled out of the Bloomfield development project, cancelling the purchase and once again stalling the progress.
Construction on the site, which will eventually feature community space and affordable housing, was already supposed to be underway.
The Liberals decision to pull out of developing the Bloomfield site will cost taxpayers more than $1.4 million in a deposit and design plans that will now likely go unused.
READ MORE: Partnership to redevelop Bloomfield Centre site dissolves over delays
Council will consider a series of plans that look at how the Bloomfield site fits in with the Centre Plan as well as whether the buildings should be torn down before the land is put up for sale.
The city now pays $90,000 per year to keep the old school in stable condition.
With files from Marieke Walsh, Global News
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