WATCH: Shannon Park residents are attending two idea fairs Wednesday night to see what should be done with the abandoned former military housing. Global’s Heide Pearson tells us what some people are hoping for.
HALIFAX – Affordable housing, a performing arts centre, and an aquarium. These are all ideas that members of the community brought to the table at Wednesday’s Ideas Fair for Shannon Park.
The ideas fair is the second phase of Canada Lands’ redevelopment of the abandoned military housing complex in the north end of Dartmouth.
“Part of what we’d like to do is have people come to the table and dream and talk and tell us what they see that property being in the long run,” said Chris Millier of Canada Lands.
Canada Lands obtained the 33-hectare property on the waterfront of Dartmouth in March of 2014. Since then Millier and his team have been working toward a redevelopment plan.
The Crown corporation has been working with the community and city to make sure the new Shannon Park serves everyone in the best way possible.
“I’m excited,” said City Councillor Darren Fisher. “I think that this is a generational opportunity, it’s been an absolute embarrassment that this has sat like this for decades.”
The existing housing complexes at Shannon Park are scheduled to be torn down this fall. The complexes haven’t been lived in for almost 30 years and are in bad shape.
Millier said because of the age of the structures, certain measures will have to be taken to ensure they are safely torn down.
“It’s important that we understand, upfront, both what the challenges are and the opportunities,” said Millier.
He added that things like new roads, water systems and transit options will also be considered when looking at development options.
People in the community see this as a great opportunity to take this space and turn it into something beautiful.
“When they get rid of what’s there, it’s going to be a blank slate,” said Kate Watson. “I’m really excited to that they’re coming to the community to see what the ideas are.”
Watson is a partner in the Hello Dartmouth blog, and advocates for Dartmouth being a welcoming place for people to work, live and play. She said she would love to see affordable housing and a connected neighbourhood be developed on the land.
“It’s just such a waste to see it there…you look over and it just looks like something out of a horror movie, so It’ll be great when that’s gone and something new has sprung up,” said Watson.
The next phase in the redevelopment plan for Shannon Park will take the ideas that people bring to the fairs and hopefully create three plans to bring to the public, said Millier. Then they will see what elements they like or don’t like, and eventually decide on one final concept.
Canada Lands hopes to have new structures, whether commercial or residential, built in Shannon Park within the next four years.
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