St. Pat's-Alexandra decision denounced

More than 100 people rallied outside the former St. Patrick's-Alexandra school in Halifax on Sunday, demanding regional council rethink a decision to sell the site to a developer.

The demonstrators say the former school should have been turned over to the community.

Rev. Rhonda Britton said the shuttered building on Maitland Street still has some life in it.

"It has meant a great deal to the community, and I think that that's what's heartbreaking. Even now, people are still trying to recover from the pain of having the school closed," said Britton, leader of the nearby Cornwallis Street Baptist Church.

The school was shut down last year. The North End Community Health Clinic and other non-profit groups wanted to take over the property.

But last week, council voted to sell the site to Jono Developments Ltd., which plans to tear down the building and put up a residential and commercial complex.

Sebastien Labelle and other demonstrators are signing petitions to get council to reconsider.

"Why would it be too late? I mean, I'm skeptical that it will be reversed," he said. "But why not?"