Cogswell Interchange

• The demolition of Africville in the 1960s and subsequent expropriation without compensation are well-documented examples of injustices.
• In the years since, there has been little substantial action to emplace African Nova Scotian residents in Downtown Halifax.
• The project is a mixed-use residential district planned on the site of the former Cogswell highway interchange in downtown Halifax.
• The elevated interchange was at the epicentre of a 1960s-era urban renewal project to construct a highway system through downtown Halifax.

Gentrification and erasure

• This more recent wave of gentrification has been referred to as “Africville 2.0.” Thus far, city officials have sidestepped important questions about future land divestment, affordable housing and zoning.
• Halifax Regional Municipality has promised to include some form of affordable housing in the future Cogswell District, but it is unclear what is meant by affordable.
• A density bonusing program has been established to encourage the creation of public benefits including affordable housing by the private sector.

“Blight Removal” in Halifax’s past

• Urban renewal goals in 1960s Halifax were twofold: the creation of a brand new harbourfront highway system and the removal of problematic housing.
• Cogswell presents a prime example of similar renewal programs criticized by Jacobs in her influential 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities.
• He produced maps with oversized dots representing perceived social ills such as households on welfare or children appearing in juvenile court.

Bridging Divides

• In the decade since, the municipality has conducted extensive public consultation as a “cornerstone” of the planning process.
• Thus far, the planning and design efforts have focused on street shapes and public space design, right down to fountains, bike lanes and benches.
• Without a sincere commitment to these actions, lower-income African Nova Scotian families will continue to struggle with displacement in their city.