Public Housing Community Offers Model For Regional Centre

Built after the so-called Halifax Explosion 90 years ago, the highly regarded neighborhood that surrounds Canada's first public housing project is filled with gardens, alleyways, parks, shops, schools, and history -- all within walking distance.

1 minute read

October 3, 2006, 9:00 AM PDT

By davarnado


"A key tenet of urban design is offering exactly what The Hydrostone does: so-called complete neighbourhoods."

"It's a brilliant design…the kind of thing we should be doing more of, and yet we did this great design…and suddenly we just stopped, we never did it again."

"Halifax Regional Municipality is looking at developing an urban design policy for the so-called regional centre: peninsular Halifax and downtown Dartmouth, bordered by the Circumferential Highway."

"...the Office for Urbanism reported that people want more emphasis on complete, walkable neighbourhoods, and on a healthy mix of past and future."

"On the one hand, we want to protect our ties to history and the kind of great historical roots the place has; on the other, we want to be a modern city and a place that has rich possibilities for the future...and those things, in many people's minds, aren't always completely aligned."

Thanks to D. A. Varnado, AICP

Sunday, October 1, 2006 in The Daily News, Greater Halifax Communities

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Yellow electric school bus with preteen students exiting.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses

The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.

4 hours ago - Associated Press

City Hall building in Austin, Texas.

Austin Launches $2M Homelessness Prevention Fund

A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.

5 hours ago - Spectrum Local News

Brick school building with mid-sized tree on front lawn.

Alabama School Forestry Initiative Brings Trees to Schoolyards

Trees can improve physical and mental health for students and commnity members.

6 hours ago - Governing