The Bloomfield Centre redevelopment project in north end Halifax will no longer be getting help from the province.
The provincial government announced Thursday it is pulling out as the developer of the Bloomfield property, after considering feedback from stakeholders and those involved in the project.
READ MORE: Partnership to redevelop Bloomfield Centre site dissolves over delays
“This project will become an iconic part of north end Halifax and we want to see it developed,” Community Services Minister Joanne Bernard said in a release.
“Given the housing market and the city’s eagerness to move forward quickly, we are confident that a private developer will be able to bring Bloomfield to life.”
The Bloomfield project — aimed at redeveloping an old school in the city into a housing complex — has been a sore spot lately, after pioneers of the project, Imagine Bloomfield, said progress on the project had stalled.
Housing Nova Scotia was announced as the winning bidder of a request for proposals issued by the Halifax Regional Municipality in December 2012 for the Bloomfield Centre redevelopment project, estimated to be $100 million.
The project was to develop nearly 500 residential units on the site, with about 40 per cent of the units set aside as affordable housing.
The government says it will work with the city and any future developer, sharing information already gathered through planning and public consultations.
“Supporting affordable home ownership was one of the key goals of the Bloomfield development and we remain committed to that goal for Halifax and across the province,” Housing Nova Scotia CEO Dan Troke said.
Housing NS says it will be focusing its efforts on expanding existing affordable housing in the city.
With files from The Canadian Press.
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