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34-529: Barrington Street is centrally located within the original Halifax street grid, laid out in the 18th century. It remains one of the main streets of the city and is home to numerous shops, office buildings, and the Halifax City Hall . Barrington Street is part of the original street grid laid out by engineer John Bruce and surveyor Charles Morris when Halifax was established as a British fortress. The streets were named after leading British statesmen, but

68-780: A first-past-the-post system and the mayor is elected via a municipality-wide first-past-the-post vote. Halifax Regional Council was formed in 1996 and consisted of twenty-three councillors and one mayor. It was reduced in size to sixteen councillors and the mayor in 2012. The council meets at Halifax City Hall . The powers and authority of Halifax are laid out in the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter (2008). Halifax Regional Council has established standing committees, community councils and advisory committees to aid in policy development and decision making. Standing committees are composed of councillors, and have responsibility over key functional areas of

102-462: A besieged City Hall, the damage included a couple of turned over cars, and a police wagon and police motorcycle being thrown in the harbour. The Citizens' Free Library was moved from place to place in the city for many years until 1890 when it was given a permanent home on the second floor of the then new City Hall. The Library closed in 1949 reopening as a part of the new Halifax Memorial Library on Spring Garden Road at Grafton Street in 1950, though

136-527: A main street of Halifax. After the town's founding it became a fashionable street for promenading. In 1766 the eastern sidewalk was planked and became known as the "mall" until it fell into disrepair in the 1820s and was dismantled. By the 19th century, Barrington Street was the main commercial district in Halifax. Horse-drawn streetcars began operating on Barrington Street in 1866. These were replaced by electric streetcars by 1896. The street saw big changes in

170-507: A major upgrade in 2012. The renovation was driven in part to accommodate the newly downsized 16 member Regional Council, reduced from 23. It also allowed for modern wiring, communications, data and video systems to be installed. An open horseshoe configuration was restored to the chamber that reflects the original layout from 1890. Halifax City Hall continues to house the offices of the Chief Administrative Officer ,

204-430: Is a form of local government consisting of several councillors from the larger Halifax Regional Council. Community councils represent a geographic area covering anywhere from five to six municipal districts where councillors consider local matters, make recommendations to Halifax Regional Council, and provide opportunities for public input. The current community councils were adopted after the 2012 election. The Office of

238-518: Is a member of all committees and is entitled to one vote. Residents can only make presentations to committees and community councils, not regional council, either through formal presentations prior to or public participation at the end of each meeting. There are six standing committees of Regional Council. Each committee has six members. The Executive Committee is composed of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Chair or designated representative appointed by each of

272-479: Is now the base for the Halifax Regional Council . The building fronts Duke Street and is located at the north end of Grand Parade , an historic military parade square dating from the founding of Halifax in 1749. Dalhousie University was situated on the present-day site of the building during the nineteenth century; for many years, the town and later city council argued for the public use of

306-575: Is slated to be demolished in the near future. In the current redevelopment plans, Barrington Street would form a continuous street once again. Download coordinates as: 44°39′23.96″N 63°35′5.86″W  /  44.6566556°N 63.5849611°W  / 44.6566556; -63.5849611  ( Barrington Street ) Halifax City Hall Halifax City Hall is the home of municipal government in Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada . Designed by architect Edward Elliot , and constructed for

340-637: The Duke Tower (across the street), Alderney Gate on the Dartmouth waterfront, and various other sites around the region. Halifax Regional Council Halifax Regional Council ( French : Conseil régional d'Halifax ) is the governing body of Halifax , known as the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). Halifax is governed by a mayor-council system, where councillors are elected from sixteen geographic districts though

374-528: The 1970s. A citizen committee was convened to lead a substantial renovation of the building in the 1980s. Halifax Hall, a large public meeting room, was created out of a number of offices in the east wing of the second floor. A damaging coating was applied to the sandstone in the 1990s. Repairs were successfully completed in 2013. City Hall was chosen to become the seat of the newly created Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996 and became home to Halifax Regional Council as well as various municipal offices. During

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408-660: The Citizens Free Library, as well as the offices of the Inspector of Licenses, the Collector of Rents and Licenses, the Foreman of Streets, and the Foreman of Water Works. The fourth floor held a caretaker's apartment, and a space variously described as a ball room, a gallery, and a museum, though the space may simply not have been completed when the building was opened. In 1907 stables were constructed under

442-672: The City Collector's Office, which was the only room still serviceable after the explosion. An emergency joint meeting of the Members of the City Council present and Citizens in attendance was chaired by the Lieutenant-Governor, and would continue to meet there from December 1917 to late February 1918. On May 25, 1918 a riot broke out in downtown Halifax following the arrest of an unruly and drunken sailor. Besides

476-552: The City of Halifax between 1887 and 1890, it is one of the oldest and largest public buildings in Nova Scotia. The property was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1997. Halifax City Hall was opened for municipal business, and for public access, in 1890 replacing offices in the old court house on the Halifax waterfront. City Hall was chosen to become the seat of the newly created Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996 and

510-678: The Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, the Municipal Clerk , legislative assistants, and media relations offices. The offices and support staff for the municipality's elected officials are also located here, with the Office of the Mayor on the third floor and the Office of the Councillors located on the fourth floor. Other municipal departments are located in adjacent commercial office space such as

544-567: The Mayor is located on the third floor of Halifax City Hall. Staffing roles and hiring are directed by the Mayor with the support of the CAO. The current staff of the office consists of The Council Support Office is located on the fourth floor of Halifax City Hall, with one remote office in Musquodoboit Harbour that is staffed part time, and other unstaffed offices in municipal buildings in some districts. Staffing roles and hiring are

578-520: The building is of cream and red sandstone , laid in the freestone technique. It also features granite construction on the ground floor and in the tower. The seven-storey tower has clock faces on the north and south sides. The northern face (visible in the photograph above left), is fixed at four minutes past nine to commemorate the Halifax Explosion of 1917. City Hall had five primary entrances in 1890. The grand entrance off of Grand Parade

612-602: The collection moved in 2014 to Halifax Central Library . The space formerly occupied by the library is now split between the office of the Mayor and the CAO. The Halifax Police moved into the Market Building on Brunswick Street in 1953 from its cramped quarters in City Hall. The police department remained on Brunswick Street until moving to their current location in the David R. McKinnon Building on Gottingen Street in

646-403: The exterior stone was replaced with new sandstone. The roof was replaced, heating and cooling systems upgraded and the 110-year-old elevator shaft decommissioned and replaced with a new, full size elevator. Interior upgrades were undertaken to bring the public and office spaces up to modern standards while respecting and maintaining character defining heritage elements. Council Chambers underwent

680-470: The late 1990s, Halifax Regional Council attempted to have the building renamed from Halifax City Hall to Halifax Regional Hall, to reflect the fact that Nova Scotia no longer has any "cities". This proposal was promptly rejected after a public outcry among heritage advocates. In 2011 a major multi-year restoration of the building began. The original cornerstone of the building and several other stone facade features were painstakingly restored, while up to 80% of

714-537: The mid-20th century, with massive demolition under the banner of urban renewal . A huge swath of the downtown area, north of Duke Street, was cleared for the development of Scotia Square and the Cogswell Interchange . The Birk's Building at the George Street intersection, along with several adjacent smaller structures, were demolished in the early 1990s. This site is now under the ownership of

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748-569: The municipality, such as transportation or the environment, and can propose, review, debate prior to forwarding reports to council with recommendations. Community councils are composed of councillors and have purview over development, land use, park and community issues in their geographic area, as well as appointments to standing committees. Advisory committees include councillors and citizens, and provide specific advice. Generally each councillor sits on two standing committees, one or more external boards, and one or more advisory committees. The mayor

782-544: The new structure and timbers from the old academic building were reportedly incorporated into the municipal building. Designed by Edward Elliot and constructed for the City of Halifax between 1887 and 1890; it is one of the oldest and largest public buildings in Nova Scotia and is a designated National Historic Site of Canada . In 1981, it was also listed as a Municipally Registered Property under Nova Scotia's Heritage Property Act . Designed in an eclectic, monumental style,

816-492: The north-east corner of the Grand Parade, at Barrington Street next to the dry moat. This involved the installation of one regular size door and a larger door for horses and carts in the two northernmost granite arched bays, opening onto Barrington Street . After the Halifax Explosion , Deputy Mayor Colwell, five aldermen, and twelve citizens, including Lieutenant-Governor MacCallum Grant and Justice Harris, assembled in

850-542: The origin of the name Barrington Street is reportedly unclear. One account suggests the street is named after William Barrington, 2nd Viscount Barrington , who served as a Secretary of War but was an "unknown" in 1749 when Halifax was founded. Others say the street name is derived from a misspelling of the Earl of Harrington , the Secretary of State. Barrington Street sits halfway up the slope to Citadel Hill and has long been

884-684: The other five standing committees. The remaining five standing committees are appointed through a process that sees each community council appoint a representative to ensure geographic balance, and the remaining three members appointed by Council based on expressions of interest. There are eighteen advisory committees of Council, 12 appointed by Regional Council and reporting to it through the Standing Committees, and 6 appointed by and reporting to Community Councils. There are two broad types of boards and commission to which HRM appoints Councillors and citizens. First, there are four boards of

918-707: The police court, policemen's rooms, office of Chief of Police, and jail cells. It was from these jail cells that Harry Houdini escaped in 1896, just six years after City Hall opened. The main or second floor contained the auditor's office, the Board of Works, the City Clerk, the office of the Mayor, the Collector, the City Engineer, and the Treasurer. The third floor was home to the Council Chamber and

952-471: The provincial government and remains one of the most prominent surface parking lots in the downtown core. Today, Barrington Street stretches the length of the Halifax peninsula. However, the Barrington Street name originally only applied to the length of the street within downtown proper. South of Spring Garden Road, the street was called Pleasant Street. North of downtown (up to North Street), it

986-576: The regional municipality described by provincial statute that function as arms length boards delivering municipal services, or managing municipal assets. The second are external boards that have been established by other levels of government (Airport, Seaport, etc), are organizations that HRM is a voluntary member of (UNSM, etc) or via contract with HRM but are not subject to direct control by the municipality (Halifax Partnership, etc). A Community Council in Nova Scotia 's Halifax Regional Municipality

1020-558: The responsibility of the Manager Council Support under the office of the CAO. The current staff of the office consists of nine full time and two part time staff, including the manager. Elections are held every four years on leap years . By-elections for council seats have been held in 1998, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007, and 2019 after some regional councillors were elected to the provincial legislature. An examination of boundaries took place throughout 2003/04 upon which there

1054-403: The site. A compromise was engineered by the premier, Sir William Young to facilitate a new use for the site. The provincial government provided funding for the university to relocate its facilities and the City of Halifax granted the university a 5-acre (20,000 m ) parcel of land elsewhere in the city to permit the university to expand. The university building was demolished to make way for

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1088-560: The street anymore. The construction of the multi-level Cogswell Interchange in 1970 separated Barrington Street into two discontinuous sections; the street now interchanges with itself at this point. That is, a driver heading south toward downtown who exits Barrington at the Cogswell Interchange will wind up on the south section of Barrington Street. Continuing straight through the interchange, Barrington splits into Hollis Street and Lower Water Street. The Cogswell Interchange

1122-482: Was originally called Lockman Street. The remainder (everything north of North Street) was once called Campbell Road. The area between downtown and the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge changed drastically in the 20th century. In order to serve the bridge, hundreds of properties were demolished in this area and this section of Barrington Street was partially converted into a limited-access highway. No shops front on this section of

1156-448: Was the main public entrance and brought visitors onto the second floor. There were also entrances off of Argyle Street to the second floor, as well as three entrances to the first floor. One door allowed access to the building from the dry moat between the building and Grand Parade. Two doors facing Duke Street provided access to the police station that was located in the first floor until the late 1940s. The first floor originally contained

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