Nova Scotia

Groups vow lawsuit over St. Pat's-Alex decision

Community groups that want to take over the former St. Patrick's-Alexandra school say they will take the city to court.
Community groups want to use the former school. (CBC)

Community groups that want to take over the former St. Patrick's-Alexandra school say they will take the city to court.

The threat comes after Halifax regional council finalized the sale of the site to a developer on Tuesday.

"Now we have to pursue legal options. There's nothing else left," said Jane Maloney, with the North End Community Health Clinic.

A lawsuit would be another step in what has been a roller-coaster of a sale.

Halifax regional council initially agreed to sell the former school site to Jono Developments Ltd. It later reversed itself under pressure from the community.

The issue was back to council last week, and councillors voted 13-10 to sell the property to Jono to turn the site into condominiums.

The deal was finalized on Tuesday, when council voted 16-7 to repeal the policy on the disposal of public buildings and adopt the current practice. This allows the sale to proceed.

Coun. Sue Uteck said this is the type of issue that keeps her up at night.

"This is the most untenable position I've been put in 10 years as a councillor based on lack of advice all the way around," she said Tuesday.

Coun. Dawn Sloane, who represents the area where the former school sits, tried to put off a final decision until a new policy could be developed.

"Just because things were not caught in time and this policy was not implemented, why should communities suffer?" said Sloane.

Her proposal to delay the vote was rejected.

Maloney said the lawyer for the community groups, Ron Pink, would have more to say on the matter later Wednesday.