Halifax proposes guidelines ensuring construction projects don’t hurt businesses

The city has released a new set of guidelines to help mitigate problems associated with large construction projects, just ahead of the busy construction season.

The report and its recommended rules about fencing, hoarding, noise, dust and public notification comes after repeated complaints about the Nova Centre project by neighbouring businesses.

READ MORE: Small downtown business suffering due to Nova Centre construction

“We’ve been listening and council has been asking us what can we do to make sure that these projects go ahead a little bit more smoothly,” said Halifax spokesperson Tiffany Chase.

“It’s all about making sure that this activity continues, which is great for our city, but in a really safe and more pleasant way.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's all about making sure that this activity continues, which is great for our city, but in a really safe and more pleasant way."

Lil MacPherson, the co-owner of the Wooden Monkey restaurant, helped work on the guidelines. Her business has endured leaks, flooding, power outages and massive street closures since the construction of the Nova Centre began more than three years ago.

She says it’s affected her bottom line greatly because limited access for pedestrians and a shortage of parking has kept patrons away.

“For us, it was parking, and proper hoarding and fencing, and giving us notice on street closures and water main breaks,” MacPherson said. “Parking was a big part. We want to make sure businesses can stay afloat while they go through this big disruption.”

She had three meetings with city staff, other business owners, developers and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business to develop the guidelines and she hopes they will help future business owners who face the same obstacles.

READ MORE: The Carleton turns to crowdfunding to stay open during Nova Centre construction

“We’re still having problems down here so this isn’t about solving things right now here but it’s for the future,” she said.

“At least we feel good … that future businesses that will be affected by construction should be taken care of and it should be a totally different plan. So that’s really positive and maybe it’s not perfect, but it’s a start.”

Zwicker’s Gallery is among the businesses that could benefit from the new guidelines. The business is across the street from the two-year construction of a mixed-use building on Spring Garden Road.

While the demolition has been relatively smooth so far, co-owner Ian Muncaster is hopeful he won’t have to experience what businesses around the Nova Centre have.

“We’re all in it together as I see it,” he said. “You recognize that there’s give and take on all sides and hopefully when we come through with it in the end of it all, it will work out to the benefit of all in the city.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We're all in it together as I see it," he said. "You recognize that there's give and take on all sides and hopefully when we come through with it in the end of it all, it will work out to the benefit of all in the city."

The city is holding an open house to provide feedback on the guidelines on April 18 at the Ralph M. Medjuck Building at 5410 Spring Garden Rd. from noon until 6 p.m.

The public can also submit feedback at shapeyourcityhalifax.ca.

Feedback gathered at the meeting and online will be part of a report that will be presented to the Transportation Standing Committee in late May.