Pastor slams St. Pat's-Alexandra decision

Halifax regional council has picked a developer instead of a community group for the St. Pat's-Alexandra school site, prompting an outcry from a community leader.

'It is Africville all over again' — Rev. Rhonda Britton

Rev. Rhonda Britton berated council after Tuesday's 18-4 vote.

"It is Africville all over again. This is the rape and ravage of a community," said Britton, leader of the nearby Cornwallis Street Baptist Church.

St. Patrick's-Alexandra on Maitland Street has been closed for a year. The North End Community Health Clinic, MicMac Native Friendship Centre and another group wanted to use the building as their new home.

Instead, council followed a staff recommendation to allow Jono Developments Ltd. to tear down the building and put up a residential and commercial complex.

Britton said the non-profit groups never had a fair shot.

"How long will it be before you now want to wipe out Uniacke Square and send those residents somewhere that you devised in your own mind is best for them?" she shouted to council.

"We are trying to provide services to our community to better our people and to make it a pleasant place to live and we don't want new development on that street in that building There are plenty of vacant lots in our community that can be developed!"

'They want more things downtown and now they're trying to delay' — Coun. Tim Outhit

Coun. Dawn Sloane, who represents the area, put forward a motion to delay a decision and give the community groups more time, but it was voted down.

Coun. Tim Outhit said there was no reason to wait.

"They want more things downtown and now they're trying to delay and obstruct development downtown. I don't get it," he said.

Jono Developments plans to designate up to 10 per cent of the residential space for affordable housing, and up to 10 per cent of the commercial area for community or non-profit use.

The community groups have said that would not be enough room to meet their needs.