City plans to renovate Grand Parade in Halifax
Project estimated to cost $3.6 million
Halifax Regional Municipality is considering spending millions on renovations to Grand Parade
Renovations on the historic Grand Parade square in the heart of downtown Halifax could begin as soon as next year for a cost upwards of $3.6 million in repairs.
Recently, the municipality issued a tender to hire a consultant to develop a recapitalization plan for the square, which Coun. Waye Mason says will outline a phased approach to the restorations, as well as also evaluate how well the space itself is configured.
“It’s our Young (and) Dundas. It’s our Times Square,” Mason said Friday.
Besides its historical roots, Mason explained the site also serves as an important event plaza and central gathering place for thousands in the city, both tourists and locals alike.
“There’s some parts of it that are desperately in need of repair,” he said.
Plans to recapitalize the square began with HRM By Design and are connected to the ongoing modernization of city hall, Mason said, adding it offers a more holistic vision for the site, compared to one-off renovations.
Proposed costs for restorations are outlined in a 2014 capital plan and condition assessment completed by Capital Management Engineering Limited.
The report anticipates the scope of work and investment needed to maintain the site for the next 25 years, which totals around $3.625.663 million for major renovations, plus another $50,000 for ongoing maintenance.
The 71-page report details the lifespan and condition of each piece of infrastructure in the square, from the metal railings and granite walls along Argyle and Barrington Streets, to light fixtures, walkways and monuments in the site.
The costliest repair listed is restoring the badly deteriorating 172-year-old perimeter of rubble ironstone wall and railing around St.Paul’s Anglican Church for an estimated $3 million.
However, the report points out the need for further investigation into that specific work.
Other estimated costs include $186,890 for restoring the metal railings along Barrington and Argyle Streets, which the report says are due for replacement in 2016.