Retreat / Advance : in the rezone
Currently, the St. Patrick’s-Alexandra school site is zoned for public use and with its sale the site is proposed to be rezoned for high-density residential development. The current deteriorated condition of the site poses a potential risk and HRM does NOT allow public access to the site. Join to celebrate the school’s past as we consider its future.
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À l’heure actuelle, le site de l’école Saint-Patrick-Alexandra est marqué comme zone « usage public » et, avec sa vente, le site devrait être réaménagé pour permettre un développement résidentiel à haute densité. La détérioration actuelle du site pose un risque potentiel et la gestion des ressources humaines n'autorise pas l'accès du public au site. Rejoignez-nous pour célébrer le passé de l’école alors que nous considérons son avenir.
Zoning is used to control the function of a place and the form and scale of that development. The Saint Patrick’s Alexandra school site, zoned as P for Parks and Institutional, has been formally unoccupied since 2011. The site remains in the possession of HRM, awaiting a sale that will rezone the land for high-density development. In the meantime, the site has deteriorated without maintenance leaving the asphalt of the playground buckled, cracks filling in with herbs and saplings, . The Brunswick street building was the St. Patrick’s Boys’ School, opened with distinction in 1921. The Maitland street building opened in 1972, the complex amalgamating the three schools of Brunswick street. It is still alleged to possess the finest wooden gym floor of any middle school on the peninsula. Adjacent is a threatened mid-century inner city public housing project. A mere block from the ongoing urban renewal of Gottingen street, the school stands as one of the city’s monuments to its own negligence. Who bears the expense of the reconfiguration of public land into private real estate profit? Who occupies the spaces of urban renewal?
Please note, HRM has NOT granted permission to access any part of the school site as its state poses a potential risk.