Oval permanent structure construction underway

It's the middle of summer, but the city of Halifax is already preparing for skating season with the construction of a permanent structure on the Cogswell Street side of the north common, beside the Emera Oval.

The building will house the ice resurfacers, skate rentals, washrooms, a lounge for skaters, and an office for staff.

The project is being led by Seagate Construction, and has a $2.6 million budget. Seagate broke ground in June and so far, it's on time and on budget.

Project manager Mike MacDonald says the building will eventually be used in the summer as well as winter.

"They can have programs running out of the building that houses the ice resurfacers, the racking for the skates can be removed, that space can be used for something different," he said.

"It will become a very multi-purpose type building."

'Stupid hut'

Some common users said a permanent structure is better than the temporary buildings in use now.

Reg McLeod says he's been walking past the construction zone every day to observe what's going on.

"They're getting rid of these temporary buildings, these funny little things and that stupid hut right in the middle of the common for the ice maker," he said. "But now that's going into these buildings. And it's great."

Sarah Beatty lives near the common and agreed the oval deserves a permanent structure.

"This has been such a great piece for the community. It's an opportunity for people to get out, get active, get engaged within the community. So I think it's great that there's something permanent," she said.

But the group Friends of the Halifax Common says it's concerned about a long-term plan for the common, and about buildings chipping away at the city's greenspace.

"Bit by bit," said co-chair Beverly Miller, "There's very little greenspace left."

Friends of the Halifax Common board member Peggy Cameron agreed.

"We're concerned about the lack of process for the city. The city is doing everything higgledy-piggaldy, it's one thing at a time, one idea at at time," she said.

"The city is very determined to densify the peninsula," Cameron said.

"Yet they're not willing to protect existing greenspace or they're not willing to create new public open greenspace. They're not creating any new urban parks on the peninsula."