Halifax council’s lot gets $37,000 upgrade
By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter
City hall’s $37,000 makeover for a parking lot is "incredibly insulting," says a Halifax film producer who was evicted from her parking space this summer to make way for councillors.
Money has been poured into the Barrington Street parking lot for structural and security upgrades since August.
That’s when 37 people, Erin Hennessey among them, were kicked out to make room for councillors and senior staff.
"I can’t believe it," Ms. Hennessey said Wednesday. "When I used to park there, there were massive potholes and smashed bottles after the weekends, and bad lighting and all that stuff."
Despite the drawbacks, she said nothing bad ever happened to her car there and the lot was close to her job at Egg Films on Barrington Street.
"It’s very visible from the street and passersby, and there is nothing (that someone could) hide behind anywhere," Ms. Hennessey said of the parking lot.
Her new spot is more than a 10-minute walk away in an underground lot that she calls "creepy."
"It smells like pee and there has been a woman’s blouse and a pair of surgical gloves in a lump in the corner of the stairwell since I started parking there three months ago," Ms. Hennessey said.
"So I love how the councillors are complaining about how unsafe it is in my old parking space that I would take back in a heartbeat because basically where I have to (park) now . . . is like a scary, horror movie setting."
John O’Brien, the municipality’s communications director, confirmed Wednesday that $37,000 of the city’s properties and facilities budgets has been spent on repairs, cleanup, patching, fencing, a security system, barriers, painting and transportation charges since mid-summer.
The province, which now owns the lot after a property switch with the city, spent money to upgrade the lighting in the lot.
The $37,000 figure surprised Coun. Sheila Fougere when she was contacted Wednesday.
"It’s kind of a shame to spend money on that when we have so many other things that need doing," the Connaught-Quinpool councillor said.
Councillors now park in the new lot, on the former Birks jewelry store site across Barrington Street from city hall, instead of in the Grand Parade, where parking is no longer permitted.
But the site may not remain a parking lot for long, Ms. Fougere said.
"The piece of property now belongs to the province and they may want to do something with it, so that’s a healthy investment of limited resources for something that’s not long term."
The councillor, who has declared her intention to run against Mayor Peter Kelly in next year’s municipal election, said she rarely relies on her car when she has meetings at city hall.
"I live so close, it’s easy for me to walk, or take the bus, or ride my bike."
Others aren’t so lucky, she realizes.
Coun. Brad Johns (Middle and Upper Sackville-Lucasville) needs his car to get to city hall. Earlier this year, he was leading the charge for councillors to continue parking in the Grand Parade.
"If we had just stayed where the heck we were . . . then nobody would have to spend anything on upgrades anywhere," he said Wednesday.
Mr. Johns said the upgrades were necessary because of a recent rash of vandalism against the vehicles of a handful of councillors. As well, city hall is used day and night for meetings and public forums, so ensuring people’s safety is key.
"I think you have to have something there for security, not just for vehicles but also for individuals," Mr. Johns said.
Coun. Gloria McCluskey (Dartmouth Centre) said she didn’t feel unsafe when the lot had no security cameras or lighting but the concerns of those who did are valid.
"When you are a councillor, you can be singled out," she said, but added that she has never experienced any vandalism during her decades in municipal politics.
Deputy Mayor Sue Uteck said the upgrades may be counterproductive because they draw attention to councillors.
"Having all that security says ‘Look at me: I am the target,’ " she said in an e-mail Wednesday.
Extra security measures were taken inside city hall three years ago after two separate groups of protesters stormed the building. Two years ago, a naked man was arrested in the Grand Parade.
(apugsley@herald.ca)
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