We believe in a depoliticized system that puts faith in the vision of the city and gives a stake to developers, residents and politicians in one streamlined process. The HRM by Design initiative is an example of what can happen when planners take the considerations of a wide group of stakeholders into consideration and develop a plan that is respectful of heritage while looking to the future.
Given that half the jobs in the municipality are currently in the urban core, there is an urgent need to increase the density of the population within the urban core. This would have the immediate impact of less traffic, a much smaller carbon footprint, a safer downtown and a more attractive city for those looking to relocate to Halifax. We believe in the benefits of urban densification, including more efficient transportation, better access to services, a stronger tax base and a vibrant, unified community. Therefore, a downtown core with significantly greater density creates a stronger, more liveable city as a whole.