Downtown Halifax
Encyclopedia
Downtown Halifax is the city centre
of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
. Located on the eastern-central portion of the Halifax Peninsula
, on Halifax Harbour
, it serves as the business, entertainment, and tourism hub of the region.
chamber at city hall
. Offices for the mayor, city councillors, and additional staff can also be found downtown.
s Province House
where the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
meets. Government House
, where the Lieutenant-Governor
resides, is located on Barrington Street. The provincial government also has offices in several other downtown office buildings.
. Aliant
and Emera
are headquartered in downtown Halifax. All Big Five Canadian banks
have major operations in the CBD. The Bank of Canada
also has one of its five Canadian regional offices located in the area.
and Montreal
or comparably size New England cities such as Portland, Maine
, Halifax has not preserved any heritage districts and has few intact blocks of historic buildings, although the downtown is known for the historic architecture of some individual landmark buildings. Demolition and urban renewal in the 1960s and 1970s replaced most of the downtown with blocks with office towers. One of the few blocks to have retained its heritage character is Granville Mall
, a pedestrian mall formerly part of Granville Street, made up of an array of shops and pubs in a conglomeration of rowed historic buildings built in the 1860s. It is known for the stone facades on each building. Historic Properties, a collection of 19th-century warehouses converted into shops and restaurants, is located nearby. Despite the heritage focus of these remaining blocks of heritage buildings, none are protected as heritage districts. Halifax developers have argued that economic growth precludes any greater heritage development. One of the only other intact blocks of downtown heritage buildings, the Morse Tea Block between Lower Water Street and Hollis faces demolition as part of a controversial Waterside Centre
tower. In 2008, the developer was able to overturn the heritage status of buildings on the block, beginning with the 1840 Sweet Basil Building
the first of the block to be demolished.
The downtown is home to individual government landmarks such as Province House
, built in 1819 and home to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
. Citadel Hill, a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) star-shaped fort, is another historic attraction in the downtown. Originally established with the arrival of Edward Cornwallis
and the out break of Father Le Loutre's War
(1749), the current fort was built in the Victorian Era
as the hub of the historic defence system for the port. As a result, there is viewplane legislation that restricts vertical development that might block the direct line of sight from Citadel Hill to the harbour and George's Island in particular. Recent developments have challenged the viewplane limits.
, an immigrant entry point prominent throughout the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, was opened to the public as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1999. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
is a maritime museum
containing extensive galleries including a large exhibit on the famous Titantic, over 70 small craft and a 200 feet (61 m) steamship CSS Acadia
. In summertime the preserved World War II corvette
operates as a museum ship and Canada's naval memorial. The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
is housed in a 150 year old building containing over 9000 works of art.
, a 3 km boardwalk
popular amongst tourists and locals alike. Many mid-sized ships dock here at one of the many wharfs. The harbourwalk is home to a Metro Transit
ferry terminal, hundreds of stores, Historic Properties, several office buildings, the Casino Nova Scotia
, and several public squares where buskers
perform, most prominently at the annual Halifax International Busker Festival in August.
, Barrington Place Shops, and Maritime Mall
. Numerous malls on Spring Garden Road
are also located nearby.
, a large facility built partially over the water.
, a 43 year old establishment located on Argyle Street, is Halifax's largest theatre. It performs an assortment of professionally produced plays year-round. The Shakespeare by the Sea
theatre company performs at nearby Point Pleasant Park
. Eastern Front Theatre performs at Alderney Landing
in Downtown
Dartmouth
which can easily be accessed from the area via the Metro Transit
ferry
service.
is one of the largest buildings in Downtown Halifax, as well as the largest arena in Atlantic Canada
. It is the home of the popular Halifax Mooseheads
hockey team, and it also plays host to most of the major sporting events and concerts that visit Halifax. The Nova Scotia International Tattoo is held here every year. It is connected to the Downtown Halifax Link
, and directly to the World Trade and Convention Centre
. The Atlantic Film Festival
, Atlantic Jazz Festival and the Halifax Pop Explosion
also take place in some downtown venues.
s are located in the downtown area, with many major hotel chains maintaining a location here. There are also a considerable number of small hostel
s nearby.
Hotels in downtown Halifax have high occupancy rates, and several new hotels are being planned. A 27-storey hotel has also been approved by city council and a 17-storey hotel on the Midtown Tavern site near the Metro Centre, was planned but recently rejected by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.
ferry terminal, which takes commuters across Halifax Harbour
to terminals at Alderney Landing
and Woodside
in Dartmouth
. These trips usually take around 12 minutes, and cost $2.25 for adults and $1.50 for seniors or children. Additional routes are being planned, and in mid-2005 a high-speed ferry
route between the downtown terminal and a new Bedford terminal was demonstrated. The results were generally positive.
There are also many tour boats available at the waterfront, ranging from spacious paddleboats
to amphibious vehicle
s such as the locally famous Harbour Hopper.
, the way the town officials originally planned in the 18th century. Some of these streets have been altered in recent years due to large developments, such as the Halifax Metro Centre
, which split Albemarle Street into two sections when it was constructed. The street was renamed Market Street and only recently did one segment revert to its original name.
The downtown streets sometimes suffer from traffic problems, so to combat this city planners in the 1960s developed a controversial plan for a six-lane elevated freeway called Harbour Drive. This project was cancelled after protests over the proposed destruction of many historic buildings. All that remains of the project today is the Cogswell Interchange, a massive concrete structure that some consider a barrier between the North End and the downtown area. Its demolition or replacement with a less sprawling and wider-laned structure is currently being considered. Traffic problems are currently avoided through the use of one-way streets, and mass transit.
Many bus routes also pass through the downtown vicinity, with major terminals at Scotia Square and on Lower Water Street (adjacent to the ferry terminal). Barrington Street is the primary bus route through the area.
operated by the Waterfront Development Corporation Limited at the South Battery Plaza (near Bishop's Landing) serves the downtown region. The Halifax Stanfield International Airport is a 30 minute drive from the area.
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. Located on the eastern-central portion of the Halifax Peninsula
Halifax Peninsula
The Halifax Peninsula is a community and planning area located in the urban core of Halifax Regional Municipality in the province of Nova Scotia. Halifax Peninsula is home to Downtown Halifax, the financial and economic heart of the region, which was also the site of the original settlement and...
, on Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
, it serves as the business, entertainment, and tourism hub of the region.
Municipal
Downtown Halifax is the home of the Halifax Regional CouncilHalifax Regional Council
Halifax Regional Council is the governing body for the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia.In April 1996, the councils for the City of Halifax, the City of Dartmouth, Town of Bedford, and Municipality of the County of Halifax were dissolved when those municipalities were amalgamated into...
chamber at city hall
Halifax City Hall
Halifax City Hall is the seat of municipal government in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.Since municipal amalgamation took place on 1 April 1996, Halifax City Hall has hosted the regular meetings of the Halifax Regional Council, as well as various municipal offices.-History:The building...
. Offices for the mayor, city councillors, and additional staff can also be found downtown.
Provincial
Downtown Halifax is the home of Nova ScotiaNova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
s Province House
Province House (Nova Scotia)
Province House is where the Nova Scotia Legislature, known officially as the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, has met every year since 1819. The building is Canada's oldest house of government...
where the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
meets. Government House
Government House (Nova Scotia)
Government House of Nova Scotia is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, as well as that in Halifax of the Canadian monarch...
, where the Lieutenant-Governor
Lieutenant-Governors of Nova Scotia
The following is a list of the Governors and Lieutenant Governors of Nova Scotia. Though the present day office of the lieutenant governor in Nova Scotia came into being only upon the province's entry into Canadian Confederation in 1867, the post is a continuation from the first governorship of...
resides, is located on Barrington Street. The provincial government also has offices in several other downtown office buildings.
Features
Downtown Halifax is considered to be a "people-friendly" downtown due to the ample number of hotels in the area, combined with pedestrian-friendly narrow streets, annual festivals and events, an array of interesting attractions, and many restaurants.Business and offices
Downtown Halifax is the financial centre of Atlantic CanadaAtlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
. Aliant
Aliant
Bell Aliant Inc. is a communications company providing services in various areas throughout eastern Canada, as Bell Aliant throughout Atlantic Canada, and under the NorthernTel, and Télébec brands in rural areas of Ontario and Quebec....
and Emera
Emera
Emera Incorporated is a Halifax, Nova Scotia based energy and services company with 570,000 customers.It operates three utility subsidiaries:* Nova Scotia Power* Bangor Hydro Electric Company* Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited...
are headquartered in downtown Halifax. All Big Five Canadian banks
Big Five banks
Big Five is the name colloquially given to the five largest banks that dominate the banking industry of Canada. The five banks are operationally headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. They are all classified as Schedule I banks that are domestic banks operating in Canada under government charter...
have major operations in the CBD. The Bank of Canada
Bank of Canada
The Bank of Canada is Canada's central bank and "lender of last resort". The Bank was created by an Act of Parliament on July 3, 1934 as a privately owned corporation. In 1938, the Bank became a Crown corporation belonging to the Government of Canada...
also has one of its five Canadian regional offices located in the area.
Historic areas and buildings
Unlike other historic Canadian cities such as QuebecQuebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
or comparably size New England cities such as Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, Halifax has not preserved any heritage districts and has few intact blocks of historic buildings, although the downtown is known for the historic architecture of some individual landmark buildings. Demolition and urban renewal in the 1960s and 1970s replaced most of the downtown with blocks with office towers. One of the few blocks to have retained its heritage character is Granville Mall
Granville Mall (Halifax)
Granville Mall is an area in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was formerly part of Granville Street, until nearby developments, such as the Cogswell Interchange, and Scotia Square, rendered this section fairly useless traffic-wise and it was converted into a pedestrian mall...
, a pedestrian mall formerly part of Granville Street, made up of an array of shops and pubs in a conglomeration of rowed historic buildings built in the 1860s. It is known for the stone facades on each building. Historic Properties, a collection of 19th-century warehouses converted into shops and restaurants, is located nearby. Despite the heritage focus of these remaining blocks of heritage buildings, none are protected as heritage districts. Halifax developers have argued that economic growth precludes any greater heritage development. One of the only other intact blocks of downtown heritage buildings, the Morse Tea Block between Lower Water Street and Hollis faces demolition as part of a controversial Waterside Centre
Waterside Centre
The Waterside Centre is a controversial development in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada proposed by Halifax real estate developer, the Armour Group. The project involves demolishing six heritage buildings to be replaced by a nine story retail and office building with partially constructed facades of...
tower. In 2008, the developer was able to overturn the heritage status of buildings on the block, beginning with the 1840 Sweet Basil Building
Sweet Basil Building
The Sweet Basil Building, also known as the P. Martin Liquors Building, was a heritage building on the waterfront of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada which was demolished by Halifax developer Armour Group in November 2008 as part of the company’s controversial Waterside Centre Development...
the first of the block to be demolished.
The downtown is home to individual government landmarks such as Province House
Province House (Nova Scotia)
Province House is where the Nova Scotia Legislature, known officially as the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, has met every year since 1819. The building is Canada's oldest house of government...
, built in 1819 and home to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
. Citadel Hill, a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) star-shaped fort, is another historic attraction in the downtown. Originally established with the arrival of Edward Cornwallis
Edward Cornwallis
Lieutenant General Edward Cornwallis was a British military officer who founded Halifax, Nova Scotia with 2500 settlers and later served as the Governor of Gibraltar.-Early life:...
and the out break of Father Le Loutre's War
Father Le Loutre's War
Father Le Loutre’s War , also known as the Indian War, the Micmac War and the Anglo-Micmac War, took place between King George's War and the French and Indian War in Acadia and Nova Scotia. On one side of the conflict, the British and New England colonists were led by British Officer Charles...
(1749), the current fort was built in the Victorian Era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
as the hub of the historic defence system for the port. As a result, there is viewplane legislation that restricts vertical development that might block the direct line of sight from Citadel Hill to the harbour and George's Island in particular. Recent developments have challenged the viewplane limits.
Museums
There are several museums and art galleries in downtown Halifax. Pier 21Pier 21
Pier 21, a former ocean liner terminal, is Canada's National Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia.It operated as an ocean liner terminal and immigration shed from 1928 to 1971 and became an immigration museum in 1999. Pier 21 is Canada's last remaining ocean immigration shed...
, an immigrant entry point prominent throughout the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, was opened to the public as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1999. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a Canadian maritime museum located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia.The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a member institution of the Nova Scotia Museum and is the oldest and largest maritime museum in Canada with a collection of over 30,000 artifacts...
is a maritime museum
Maritime museum
A maritime museum is a museum specializing in the display of objects relating to ships and travel on large bodies of water...
containing extensive galleries including a large exhibit on the famous Titantic, over 70 small craft and a 200 feet (61 m) steamship CSS Acadia
CSS Acadia
CSS Acadia is a former hydrographic surveying and oceanographic research ship of the Hydrographic Survey of Canada and its successor the Canadian Hydrographic Service....
. In summertime the preserved World War II corvette
Flower class corvette
The Flower-class corvette was a class of 267 corvettes used during World War II, specifically with the Allied navies as anti-submarine convoy escorts during the Battle of the Atlantic...
operates as a museum ship and Canada's naval memorial. The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is the provincial art gallery for the province of Nova Scotia. It is located in the central downtown region of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with a branch gallery in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia....
is housed in a 150 year old building containing over 9000 works of art.
Waterfront
The waterfront in Downtown Halifax is the site of the Halifax HarbourwalkHalifax Boardwalk
The Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk is located on the Halifax Harbour waterfront in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.The Halifax boardwalk is open to the public 24 hours a day...
, a 3 km boardwalk
Boardwalk
A boardwalk, in the conventional sense, is a wooden walkway for pedestrians and sometimes vehicles, often found along beaches, but they are also common as paths through wetlands, coastal dunes, and other sensitive environments....
popular amongst tourists and locals alike. Many mid-sized ships dock here at one of the many wharfs. The harbourwalk is home to a Metro Transit
Metro Transit (Halifax)
Metro Transit is a Canadian public transport agency operating buses and ferries in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality .Owned by the HRM, Metro Transit's operations area is the urban core in the western part of the municipality, namely the Halifax and Dartmouth Metropolitan Areas, along...
ferry terminal, hundreds of stores, Historic Properties, several office buildings, the Casino Nova Scotia
Casino Nova Scotia
Casino Nova Scotia is located in Nova Scotia, Canada, and has locations in Halifax and Sydney.-Halifax casino:The Casino Nova Scotia opened a temporary location in the Sheraton Hotel Halifax on June 1, 1995. On April 24, 2000 it moved to a brand new, $100-million "Vegas-style" facility on the...
, and several public squares where buskers
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
perform, most prominently at the annual Halifax International Busker Festival in August.
Shopping
Downtown Halifax, being home to many small shops and vendors, is a major shopping area in the HRM. It is also home to several small malls, including Scotia SquareScotia Square
Scotia Square is a large commercial development in Downtown Halifax, in the Halifax Regional Municipality Nova Scotia managed by Halifax Developments Limited . It was built in the late sixties to mid seventies...
, Barrington Place Shops, and Maritime Mall
Maritime Centre (Halifax)
The Maritime Centre in Downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada is an office building home to the regional telecommunications company Bell Aliant ....
. Numerous malls on Spring Garden Road
Spring Garden, Halifax
Spring Garden, along with Barrington Street and Quinpool Road, is a major commercial and cultural district in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It comprises Spring Garden Road, South Park Street, and a number of smaller side streets...
are also located nearby.
Restaurants and nightlife
The area is home to approximately 200 restaurants and bars, providing an interesting array of world cuisine. There are also over 60 sidewalk cafes that open in the summer months. The nightlife is made up of bars and small music venues as well as Casino Nova ScotiaCasino Nova Scotia
Casino Nova Scotia is located in Nova Scotia, Canada, and has locations in Halifax and Sydney.-Halifax casino:The Casino Nova Scotia opened a temporary location in the Sheraton Hotel Halifax on June 1, 1995. On April 24, 2000 it moved to a brand new, $100-million "Vegas-style" facility on the...
, a large facility built partially over the water.
Theatre
Neptune TheatreNeptune Theatre (Halifax)
The Neptune Theatre is the largest professional theatre company in Atlantic Canada with a capacity of 497 and is located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It performs a mixture of new and classical plays....
, a 43 year old establishment located on Argyle Street, is Halifax's largest theatre. It performs an assortment of professionally produced plays year-round. The Shakespeare by the Sea
Shakespeare by the Sea, Halifax
Shakespeare by the Sea is a professional theatre company and registered society in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Founded in 1994, it specialises in performing the works of William Shakespeare...
theatre company performs at nearby Point Pleasant Park
Point Pleasant Park
Point Pleasant Park is a large, partially forested municipal park at the southern tip of the Halifax peninsula. It once hosted several artillery batteries, and a well-preserved 18th century Martello tower can be found there...
. Eastern Front Theatre performs at Alderney Landing
Alderney Landing
Alderney Landing is a convention centre, art gallery, market, and theatre facility in Downtown Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It was opened in May, 1999...
in Downtown
Downtown Dartmouth
Downtown Dartmouth is the main business, banking and government office core of the Dartmouth area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia...
Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
which can easily be accessed from the area via the Metro Transit
Metro Transit (Halifax)
Metro Transit is a Canadian public transport agency operating buses and ferries in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality .Owned by the HRM, Metro Transit's operations area is the urban core in the western part of the municipality, namely the Halifax and Dartmouth Metropolitan Areas, along...
ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
service.
Events and festivals
The Halifax Metro CentreHalifax Metro Centre
The Halifax Metro Centre was built in 1978, in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The building is next to the World Trade and Convention Centre, at the foot of Citadel Hill. It is the largest arena in Halifax. It originally featured a full ring of bright orange seats around the playing surface,...
is one of the largest buildings in Downtown Halifax, as well as the largest arena in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
. It is the home of the popular Halifax Mooseheads
Halifax Mooseheads
The Halifax Mooseheads are a CHL ice hockey club in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team was founded in 1994 and began play in the Dilio division of the QMJHL for the 1994-1995 season. While the franchise has never won a league championship, they have...
hockey team, and it also plays host to most of the major sporting events and concerts that visit Halifax. The Nova Scotia International Tattoo is held here every year. It is connected to the Downtown Halifax Link
Downtown Halifax Link
The Downtown Halifax Link system is similar to Toronto's PATH or Montreal's RÉSO system, but on a much smaller scale. It consists of a network of climate-controlled pedways connecting various office buildings, hotels, parkades, and entertainment venues around downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada...
, and directly to the World Trade and Convention Centre
World Trade and Convention Centre
The World Trade and Convention Centre is a convention centre/office complex in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is adjacent to the Halifax Metro Centre....
. The Atlantic Film Festival
Atlantic Film Festival
The Atlantic Film Festival is an international film festival held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Held annually, the ten-day celebration of film and video from Atlantic Canada and around the world is committed to screening an inspiring and engaging collection of films and videos from Canada and the...
, Atlantic Jazz Festival and the Halifax Pop Explosion
Halifax Pop Explosion
The Halifax Pop Explosion is a music festival that takes place every fall, two weeks after Thanksgiving, in Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada.-History:...
also take place in some downtown venues.
Accommodation
Many of the Halifax region's hotelHotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s are located in the downtown area, with many major hotel chains maintaining a location here. There are also a considerable number of small hostel
Hostel
Hostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
s nearby.
List of hotels in downtown Halifax
- Cambridge Suites
- The Lord Nelson Hotel & SuitesLord Nelson HotelThe Lord Nelson Hotel is a grand hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located on the corner of Spring Garden and South Park Streets across from the Halifax Public Gardens. It was built in 1927 by a consortium of investors led by the Canadian Pacific Railway who wanted a Halifax anchor to...
- Citadel Halifax Hotel
- Delta BarringtonDelta HotelsDelta Hotels is a chain of 45 hotels and resorts across Canada, primarily in the 4 star range of standard. Delta once had a hotel in the United States, the Delta Court of Flags Hotel, located in Orlando, Florida, however, it was closed sometime after 1996 and has subsequently been demolished...
- Delta HalifaxDelta HotelsDelta Hotels is a chain of 45 hotels and resorts across Canada, primarily in the 4 star range of standard. Delta once had a hotel in the United States, the Delta Court of Flags Hotel, located in Orlando, Florida, however, it was closed sometime after 1996 and has subsequently been demolished...
- Four Points by SheratonFour Points by SheratonFour Points by Sheraton is a Starwood Hotels & Resorts hotel brand, targeted towards business travelers and small conventions. The Four Points is Starwood's 3rd largest brand and is found in over 24 different countries with around 149 properties worldwide....
Halifax - The Halliburton
- Marriott Halifax HarbourfrontMarriott InternationalMarriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
(formerly Casino Nova Scotia Hotel & Sheraton). - Marriott Residence InnMarriott InternationalMarriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
- Prince George Hotel
- Radisson Suite Hotel HalifaxRadisson HotelsRadisson Hotels is one of the leading, full-service global hotel companies with more than 420 locations in 73 countries. The first Radisson Hotel was built in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1909, and was named after the 17th-century French explorer Pierre-Esprit Radisson...
- Westin Nova Scotian
- Courtyard by MarriottCourtyard by MarriottCourtyard by Marriott is a brand of hotels owned by Marriott International. Courtyard by Marriott is designed for business travelers but also accommodates to families. Its rooms feature large desks, couches, free broadband Internet access, and "big" breakfasts. The majority of locations have...
(125 rooms)
Hotels in downtown Halifax have high occupancy rates, and several new hotels are being planned. A 27-storey hotel has also been approved by city council and a 17-storey hotel on the Midtown Tavern site near the Metro Centre, was planned but recently rejected by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.
Harbour
The waterfront area is home to a Metro TransitMetro Transit (Halifax)
Metro Transit is a Canadian public transport agency operating buses and ferries in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality .Owned by the HRM, Metro Transit's operations area is the urban core in the western part of the municipality, namely the Halifax and Dartmouth Metropolitan Areas, along...
ferry terminal, which takes commuters across Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
to terminals at Alderney Landing
Alderney Landing
Alderney Landing is a convention centre, art gallery, market, and theatre facility in Downtown Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It was opened in May, 1999...
and Woodside
Woodside, Nova Scotia
Woodside is an unincorporated lower to middle income urban community of Dartmouth, within the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. The community is divided into North Woodside and South Woodside. Woodside is home to two hospitals: the Dartmouth General Hospital and the Nova Scotia...
in Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
. These trips usually take around 12 minutes, and cost $2.25 for adults and $1.50 for seniors or children. Additional routes are being planned, and in mid-2005 a high-speed ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
route between the downtown terminal and a new Bedford terminal was demonstrated. The results were generally positive.
There are also many tour boats available at the waterfront, ranging from spacious paddleboats
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
to amphibious vehicle
Amphibious vehicle
An amphibious vehicle , is a vehicle or craft, that is a means of transport, viable on land as well as on water – just like an amphibian....
s such as the locally famous Harbour Hopper.
Road
The streets in the downtown area are set in a grid pattern like the rest of the Halifax PeninsulaHalifax Peninsula
The Halifax Peninsula is a community and planning area located in the urban core of Halifax Regional Municipality in the province of Nova Scotia. Halifax Peninsula is home to Downtown Halifax, the financial and economic heart of the region, which was also the site of the original settlement and...
, the way the town officials originally planned in the 18th century. Some of these streets have been altered in recent years due to large developments, such as the Halifax Metro Centre
Halifax Metro Centre
The Halifax Metro Centre was built in 1978, in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The building is next to the World Trade and Convention Centre, at the foot of Citadel Hill. It is the largest arena in Halifax. It originally featured a full ring of bright orange seats around the playing surface,...
, which split Albemarle Street into two sections when it was constructed. The street was renamed Market Street and only recently did one segment revert to its original name.
The downtown streets sometimes suffer from traffic problems, so to combat this city planners in the 1960s developed a controversial plan for a six-lane elevated freeway called Harbour Drive. This project was cancelled after protests over the proposed destruction of many historic buildings. All that remains of the project today is the Cogswell Interchange, a massive concrete structure that some consider a barrier between the North End and the downtown area. Its demolition or replacement with a less sprawling and wider-laned structure is currently being considered. Traffic problems are currently avoided through the use of one-way streets, and mass transit.
Many bus routes also pass through the downtown vicinity, with major terminals at Scotia Square and on Lower Water Street (adjacent to the ferry terminal). Barrington Street is the primary bus route through the area.
Air
A mixed-use heliportHeliport
A heliport is a small airport suitable only for use by helicopters. Heliports typically contain one or more helipads and may have limited facilities such as fuel, lighting, a windsock, or even hangars...
operated by the Waterfront Development Corporation Limited at the South Battery Plaza (near Bishop's Landing) serves the downtown region. The Halifax Stanfield International Airport is a 30 minute drive from the area.
See also
- Downtown Halifax LinkDowntown Halifax LinkThe Downtown Halifax Link system is similar to Toronto's PATH or Montreal's RÉSO system, but on a much smaller scale. It consists of a network of climate-controlled pedways connecting various office buildings, hotels, parkades, and entertainment venues around downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada...
- Halifax Regional MunicipalityHalifax Regional Municipality, Nova ScotiaHalifax Regional Municipality is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Regional Municipality had a 2006 census population of 372,679, while the metropolitan area had a 2010 estimated population of 403,188, and the urban area of Halifax had a population of 282,924...
- Spring Garden RoadSpring Garden, HalifaxSpring Garden, along with Barrington Street and Quinpool Road, is a major commercial and cultural district in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It comprises Spring Garden Road, South Park Street, and a number of smaller side streets...
, a district that is generally considered to be a part of downtown.
