Friends of the Halifax Common

The 235 acres of common land that King George III granted in 1763 “for the use of the inhabitants of the Town of Halifax forever,” includes all the land bordered by Robie and North/South Park Streets between Cunard and South Streets. Originally the predominant uses were as a military ground, for public grazing & wood, and as public open space.

Over the next two and a half centuries, public institutions were added to the common as these were seen as appropriate public uses. Today much of this land is occupied by the hospitals, CBC television studios, Queen Elizabeth High School, the new Citadel High, Camp Hill Cemetery, Dalhousie’s Carleton campus, the Public Gardens and Victoria Park, the Museum of Natural History, All Saints Cathedral, etc.

What Happened? In the early years the land was considered a bit of a wasteland and over the years using it for institutions and selling parcels to private owners seemed like a positive civic step.

Unfortunately, as a result, less than 1/3 of the original Common remains and more is in danger of being lost.

The 1994 Halifax Common Plan

In 1994, after public uproar over paving a section of the Common for the Grand Prix road races, Halifax City Council adopted the Halifax Common Plan. This was based on a successful and meaningful public consultative process.

The Halifax Common Plan commits the City (now HRM) to the following:
Section 2.1: The amount of public open space in the Halifax Common will not be decreased.
Section 3.1: The amount of land owned by the City of Halifax will not be decreased.
Section 3.2: The city will seek to increase the amount of land under city ownership through recapture of lands.

link to HRM site 1994 Plan

link to 2006 HRM call for plan review of 1994 Plan (pdf)

Posted 11-19-08

University of Kings College article on the FHC>