As the Bloomfield saga drags on, a Toronto developer laments what could have been

In the heart of downtown Toronto, a once neglected neighbourhood has undergone a remarkable transformation. Thousands of condos and apartments now stand where vacant lots once littered the landscape. A soccer pitch, community and cultural centres, a grocery store, and much more have been added, all part of a massive redevelopment project that has revitalized Regent Park.

The success of Regent Park stands in stark contrast to the stalled redevelopment of Halifax’s former Bloomfield school site on Agricola Street. The missed opportunity is all the more apparent because the developer behind the Regent Park project, Mitchell Cohen of Daniels Corp., had proposed a similar model for Bloomfield over a decade ago. Unfortunately, his proposal was ultimately rejected by Halifax officials, and the site has languished ever since.

Cohen’s vision for Bloomfield was a public-private partnership that would prioritize community needs and desires. The project would have included a mix of market and affordable housing, as well as community space. However, despite the potential benefits, the proposal was dismissed, and the site remains vacant and dilapidated.

In contrast, Regent Park has thrived under Daniels Corp.’s leadership, with a focus on creating a vibrant, inclusive community. The success of Regent Park serves as a testament to the power of collaboration between developers and municipalities in creating sustainable, thriving neighbourhoods.

As Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore reflects on the missed opportunity at Bloomfield, he acknowledges the need for tighter redevelopment timelines and conditions for future projects. The city must ensure that properties do not sit idle for years on end, especially in the midst of a housing crisis.

With buyback agreements in place for sites like Bloomfield, there is a possibility that the municipality could repurchase the land if construction does not begin by a certain deadline. This would allow the city to take action and prevent derelict building sites from becoming a blight on the community.

Susanna Fuller, a member of the Imagine Bloomfield community group, emphasizes the need for more stringent provisions and timelines for development when selling off public land. By holding developers accountable and prioritizing the public good, Halifax can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.

In the end, the redevelopment of the Bloomfield site remains a looming question mark. Will the city take action to repurchase the land and kickstart the project, or will it continue to languish in disrepair? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – lessons must be learned from the past to ensure a brighter future for Halifax’s neglected sites.