In the debate around housing policy, we constantly hear that we need to build up, as thats the only solution to getting the number of units Halifax needs. This is bad thinking for a number of reasons ill get to later, but its also historically wrong.

Halifax Peninsula’s population grew to a high of 93,301 in 1956, and has yet to regain that population, despite years of flat out building. The peninsula was more densely populated in the 1950’s then it is now, and there were no highrises then.

Thanks to the way the census is conducted, we can see the change in population for a geographic area. in the Census data.

The Peninsula’s population grew to a high of 93,301 in 1956, when the Dominion Public Building was the tallest in Halifax, and decreased thereafter, reaching a low of 59,943 in 1996, and roughly equal to the population in 1931. In 2016, the population was 63,210 people. By 2021, the population increased to 72,169 people–an increase of 14.1% from 2016.

So Why the dramatic collapse between 1961 and 1981? The National Housing Act of 1954 enabled federal money via CMHC properties to redevelop properties for their highest and best use, including commercial uses. This was a big difference over previous versions of the act, which only allowed clearance of slum housing to make way for new housing.

It was in partnership with CHMC, that the city undertook Stephenson’s 1957 redevelopment study for Halifax. The partnership was further enhanced by the fact the city’s Development Officer, Robert B. Grant, was a former CMHC official.

In the 1957 Report, Stephenson uses a number of metrics to argue an area is a slum and suggest its redevelopment. His report Identifies several areas with a combined population of 6480 people to be cleared, and proposes new developments to accommodate only 5600. of course, all those people will need to be displaced to enable clearance. as projects were proposed, additional lands were cleared for them, displacing even more people.

Stevenson proposed several developments on unused land, What is now Romans Ave/Chisholm; The Rockhead prison lands, around Leads st; Mulgrave park; and Uniack Square. None of these when completed housed the proposed number of residents.

Council minutes from the 1960’s are full of approvals for property expropriations. The population drop between 1956 and 1966 can be entirely attributed to slum clearance, and residents moving to the more suburban parts of the city – Clayton park and Rockingham areas saw significant growth in the early 1960’s, my house for example was built in 1964. In 1969, the City of Halifax annexed Spryfield, as well as Armdale, Clayton Park, Fairview, and Rockingham, expanding off the Peninsula, and giving it its first true suburbs.

Areas that were cleared now house the Metro Centre complex, Centennial Pool, Police Station, Scotia Square and Brunswick place, The Ocean Towers, The Cogswell lands, Uniack square. the vacant land Between Barrington street and the dockyard, South of North Street.

The First proper tall building in Halifax, the 15 story Tupper building that houses the medical school at Dalhousie opened in 1967, Taking the height crown from The Dominion Public Building. Park Vic at 21 stories, opened in 1969.

This site attempts to explain why Halifax is the way it is. As you read through the Modernizing Halifax section, you should be able to see the results of decisions made in the cites best interest 50 years ago. While we dont address it directly here, similar thinking was happening in Dartmouth.

All this to say, we can build a more dense city without every new build needing to be a tower. Housing options are important, and we need more housing of all types of units. Smaller buildings let different developers get into the game, and that leads to more units faster.