Heritage Trust aims to buy land for $1
Land and water lot needed for parking lot, future expansion plans for National Historic Site
Before eventually building a marina and interpretive centre, first the Africville Heritage Trust needs to buy a piece of land and a water lot from HRM.
On Tuesday, Halifax regional councillors will consider a request from the non-profit Africville Heritage Trust (AHT) to purchase a 33,000-square-foot property next to the Africville Museum and a 50,000-square-foot water lot nearby.
In the short term, they need it to expand the museum’s visitor parking lot but in the long term, the AHT aims to build an interpretive centre and marina on the site. Purchase price? $1. Seems right, since in the 1960s, the City of Halifax relocated Africville residents to public housing projects and demolished the community to develop the Mackay Bridge as well as the Port of Halifax facilities at Fairview Cove to the west.
CRITICAL NEED
Staff at the AHT declined to comment on Monday but in a letter to HRM dated December 2023, they said they need the expansion to the parking lot because of access issues.
“While the location of Africville National Historic Site is an asset because it encompasses a portion of the original Africville lands, its location also provides challenges with respect to access, isolation and safety,” was written in the letter.
Access is limited due to its industrial neighbours plus there are no sidewalks on Africville Road, it’s difficult to access from Barrington Street and there isn’t transit service to the area.
“Visitor parking is critical to operations.”
OPPORTUNITY TO ‘EXTEND HRM’S GOOD WILL’
HRM staff report that it’s a vacant piece of land that is “naturally landscaped.” The only costs would be $15,000$25,000 for due diligence work and the estimated value is $446,000 for both the land and water lot.
Staff wrote this is an opportunity to help AHT with their expansion aspirations and “to further extend HRM’S good will in the name of reconciliation, underscoring HRM’S 2010 apology.”
Africville was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1997 and a settlement was reached with HRM in 2010 which included 2.5 acres of land and the construction of a replica of the former Seaview Baptist Church for the museum.
There is also a proposal in the works to have Africville designated a UNESCO international site of historic memory. In the HRM staff report, AHT is expecting an update on their application status “later this year.”
EXPANSION PLANS
Besides securing the future protection of the heritage site, the purchase is identified as a priority in the AHT’S strategic business plan for the next three years. Buying the land and water lot goes toward the protection of the historic community site as well as sets the groundwork for an interpretive centre and marina in the area.
It was noted in the HRM staff report that AHT has obtained a marina project brief prepared by consultants Superyacht East Coast. The brief sets out a preliminary concept, requirements, estimates, and project planning considerations.
AHT is also looking to develop an interpretive centre. In their letter, members of the AHT wrote that the interpretive centre would be “a world class museum that tells the story of Africville and acts as an inspiration to the community and visitors from around the world.”
HRM staff report there are “active discussions” between HRM and AHT with respect to the future of an infilled property — the Pyritic Slate Sequestration Facility lands — and how that works into AHT’S vision.
“That matter will be the subject of a future report to regional council,” staff wrote.
On Tuesday, HRM staff will recommend council vote to declare the property surplus and identify it as ‘extraordinary’ and set a date for a public hearing since it is a less-than-market-value sale. The sale will be authorized pending the results of the public hearing.