While flipping through my copy of “FOUNDED UPON A ROCK -
Historic Buildings in Halifax and Vicinity” published by The Heritage Trust of
Nova Scotia in 1967, a yellowed newspaper clipping fell out. It was a
Letter to the Editor written by L.B. Jensen, published by the Halifax
Mail-Star on Jun 25, 1969, which I fortunately identified from the back of
the clipping.
As a long time writer of Letters to the Editor, I
appreciated 1) a shared concern for the common good, 2) important historic content 3) the writing and 4) the length. Today, in our social media world, comment has
so often been reduced to memes and slogans and maximum characters allowed.
Jensen’s letter was part of a massive citizen outcry at proposed redevelopment
of the downtown area to build a highway. I tried to scan the tiny yellow columns without attractive results so I have transcribed it and shared it below.
Anyone who has experienced Halifax’s lively Waterfront area will
recognize its attraction for locals and visitors alike. You might not know that the area was once designated
to be demolished to make way for a multi-lane highway. The Cogswell Exchange, all that remains of the suspended project, is currently
being removed and remediated to develop amenities suitable for the downtown
community on the rescued acreage. Some of us will see what develops. Some of us
may have left the room by then.
The goal was to reduce congestion. That's a promise we have heard recently, when our Premier removed the tolls from our bridges. It might have made a few
things easier. Trucks leaving from the container port have a difficult exit
through Water Street. We would have
ended up having as unpleasant a waterfront as many port cities. We still have
many traffic problems to solve, but our
Historic Waterfront has proved its worth, especially the developers of high end
real estate, and the rest of us who go there for Cow’s Ice Cream and occasional
tony restaurants on our anniversaries and the Buskers Festival.
Harbour Drive was, for most of the 1960s, a given. The
project itself was accepted by the City as the best option to improve traffic
and foster development and everyone was doing it. Priorities that were trending
in urban planning involved slum clearance programs across North America, and car prioritizing. I was living in New York and remember "slum clearances" undertaken to build Lincoln Centre in Manhattan, which displaced 7,000 families from reasonably priced housing and forced them into crowed slums in Harlem and the Bronx with little or no assistance.
The questions that remained were about specifics
such as street lines, how many lanes Harbour Drive should be, where to put that
second bridge, and where to connect the Northwest Arm Bridge on the mainland
side. But ultimately, Harbour Drive was going to happen.
But then, it didn’t. Read more about it on a Local History
Blog published by the Halifax Public Libraries
Halifax Municipal Archives: The
Cogswell Interchange and the Road to Nowhere Written
by guest blogger, Elena Cremonese, Archives Technician
Of course, I had to find out more about L.B. Jensen writer of Letters to the Editor and many
books. His obituary provides the most interesting reading.
*****************************************************
Halifax
Mail-Star Jun 25, 1969
"Historic Waterfront" To The Editor:
Sir,
I believe that the decision made by Halifax city council on
the evening of June 19, to the effect that the historic waterfront buildings be
demolished, will be regarded by future generations as tantamount to vandalism.
I believe that the decision was unworthy of a city council
that has been noteworthy for its wise and far-sighted leadership; a council
under whose direction the face of Halifax has been transformed. It was a
decision of which we all will be ashamed and which we will bitterly regret for
many years to come.
It seemed to me as an observer that the decision was made
without knowledge of several important factors, for example:
- Exactly what are the plans for Harbor Drive from
the post office to the south? What is envisaged and when will council and the
citizens of Halifax be informed? Are we all in the grip of vast impersonal
forces beyond our control?
- Why were the planned demolitions to the west of
the new Court House a surprise to city council? What other surprises are in
store?
- What are the plans for the harbor front by the
demolished historic buildings? Should they not be examined before the buildings
are demolished?
- What will be the cost of the demolition of these uildings, plus the cost of retaining walls, fill and so on and what other
implications are there to this action?
-
The firm constructing Harbor Drive is situated
outside of the Maritimes and its officers have no interest in the city of
Halifax. Why should the views of these people take precedence over the opinions
of a substantial number of the citizens of Halifax as well as the most highly
qualified representatives of the federal government? Is there any public demand
that the buildings should be demolished?
-
What effect will this decision have on possible
requests by the city of Halifax for federal assistance in creating historic
attractions at some time in the future?
- What would be the effect if, failing all else,
the historic buildings were allow¬ed to remain for a certain period beyond the
opening of the interchange?
-
What exactly what sort of future city does the city
council envisage; is it to be like most. of the other cities of Canada or is it
to be something unique with a special character and with attractions impossible
for other cities to emulate?
The principle or hiring a highly qualified staff and seeking
their advice is well understood. In a ship, the captain is advised by his
specialist officers and then in the light of all considerations, makes his
policy decision, sometimes in conflict with his specialist advice.
Similarly one would expect such a relationship between
council and staff. The fact that a policy decision sometimes conflicts with
specialist advice does not seem to me to suggest or necessitate a lack of confidence
by either party. If such were the case then there would be no requirement for
council as it would simply rubber stamp staff decisions.
I do not believe it is fair to label the people who have
worked long and hard for waterfront restoration as hobbyists. No more would it
be fair to say that the dedicated men of city council are hobbyists.
Both groups receive little return for their efforts which
are each in their way designed for the good of the city.
Nor do I believe that waterfront restoration would deprive a
single adult or child of housing or cause families to suffer in any way. This
surely is a different question which is being dealt with separately.
I wish to say in conclusion that if the waterfront restoration
had been permitted, it was the intention of some of us to next devote our
efforts to obtaining and restoring by public fund across Canada a wartime RCN
corvette. This would be a living historic memorial in Halifax which would
further enhance the interest and importance of the waterfront area.
I believe that difficulties are meant to be overcome and
that no man should give up a point of principle, especially when future
generations are concerned. This is an opportunity which never will occur again.
City council so many times in the past has agreed to the
value of these buildings and has made valiant efforts to save them. You should
take heart and not give up the struggle at the eleventh hour.
L. B. JENSON 1185 South Park Street, Halifax
