Citizens Participate in Design

Citizens are being asked how they want to see the Halifax waterfront develop into the next millennium.

The Halifax waterfront plan, officially launched in January by Halifax regional council in partnership with the Waterfront Development Corp., is already well under way. A public "visioning workshop" held in March drew more than 100 people armed with excellent ideas and suggestions. And consulting firm EDM Environmental Design and Management of Halifax has been brought on board to help develop the plan.

To further the process, the waterfront corporation and the municipality now welcome to Halifax renowned urban designer Stuart Dawson, a principal of Sasaki Associates based in Boston. On Wednesday, July 7, Mr. Dawson, with the help of EDM consultants and waterfront corporation and municipality staff, will give a public lecture and slide presentation of successful waterfronts elsewhere.

A public workshop will follow to allow discussion on key issues related to development choices and urban design, public space and links, and marine-related activity. The workshop will result in policy objectives to guide development and public investment on the waterfront.

The consultants are also seeking citizen volunteers to take part in a series of design workshops to model what development on the waterfront should look like.

All members of the public are invited to attend the July 7 lecture and workshop beginning at 7 p.m. at the Halifax Sheraton Hotel, 1919 Upper Water St.

The public has been plugged in from the start of this process through workshops, a website, and distribution of a newsletter named Tidings.

Highlights of the process include:

• A unique partnership between the Waterfront Development Corp. and Halifax Regional Municipality, working with EDM Environmental Design and Management, key stakeholders and the public.

• A high-profile public lecture and workshop July 7 with international and local urban designers. This session follows a March 20 public "visioning workshop." The planning process will also include a series of design workshops to be held in August and September, an open house in the fall, and a formal public hearing to be held by regional council in 2000.

• To keep the public informed and to receive feedback, a website for the planning process was created. It can be found at: www.region.halifax.ns.ca/comserv/planning.html or www.halifaxwaterfront.com/review.html.

• Newsletters are being distributed throughout the process to keep the public informed of the progress and communicate feedback received. Copies of the newsletters are also available online at the above web addresses.

• The process will showcase state-of-the-art technology in the area of 3-D computer modelling to help the public and decision-makers visualize the urban design guidelines that will result from this process.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Stuart Dawson will be available for media interviews July 7 before or after the workshop.