Armour Group Appeal

The province will seek intervenor status in Armour Group's decision to appeal Halifax regional council's rejection of the Waterside Centre development, Premier Rodney MacDonald said.

Armour Group announced today, Oct. 31, that it will take the matter to the Utilities and Review Board for appeal.

"This development needs to move forward," said Premier MacDonald. "It would bring significant employment for trades, it would encourage businesses to move to Halifax and bring meaningful jobs for generations to come. It would also bring in additional tax dollars.

"In these times of economic uncertainty, the city of Halifax and the province of Nova Scotia, must move forward, not step backward."

Premier MacDonald said the HRM council decision, which went against the recommendation of HRM staff, restricts much needed downtown development for "class A" office space. Armour Group also has a long-standing reputation for preserving heritage as the Historic Properties and Founder's Square projects have shown. The company's plan for the Waterside Centre would preserve the existing facades of Heritage sites.

"The way it is now, everyone loses. The developer can't build and the heritage sites will be torn down; that just can't happen", said Premier MacDonald. "The only way these heritage buildings will be saved is by incorporating them into a modern city."

The province is continuing to review other options that could resolve the matter.