The Planning Partnership is in the final stages of a 2-year process to prepare a comprehensive urban design strategy for the Halifax Regional Municipality. The strategy aims to enhance the urban environment and raise public awareness of the importance of urban design through a comprehensive public engagement process. The process is centred on a series of Public Urban Design Forums that include design charrettes and workshops. A key outcome of the study was a comprehensive Downtown Halifax Urban Design Strategy to guide public investment and shape development to complement the unique character and rich heritage of the city. This heritage includes Citadel Hill, the harbour, the fine-grained block patterns and adjacent historic neighbourhoods.
The Halifax Downtown Plan was recently awarded by the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.