An ongoing priority for DHBC and its members is sound fiscal stewardship by the municipality. Commercial assessment values across all of HRM continue to grow, rising by 7.86%. It should be noted that the majority of this increase was a rise in existing values, rather than the addition of new construction. Downtown’s assessment value rose by 3.16%. Hence, HRM should be able to make strategic investments without increasing the downtown commercial tax rate.  This can be accomplished by: 
(i) setting priorities that will lead to long term economic growth, such as those in Vision 2030; 
(ii) seeking alternate external funding sources, including a new funding model from the province.

DHBC supports the idea of "amending the Nova Scotia Liquor Act to allow the serving of alcoholic beverages on tourism vehicles."

DHBC believes that by supporting this amendment we would be supporting many of our tourist-focused business members, and it is aligned with other Canadian jurisdictions. 

The Province has to "allow" the municipality to establish a fund to help mitigate the negative financial impact some construction projects have on local businesses.

In October 2025, HRM Councillor Kathryn Morse put forward a motion that DHBC, and the other eight business improvement districts in HRM are fully in support of.  

The motion reads as follows:

“That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to write a letter to be signed by the Mayor requesting the Province of Nova Scotia enable HRM to establish a mitigation fund for small businesses impacted by necessary road construction projects of more than 90 days duration.” 

DHBC is in support of the HRM staff report, and its recommendations, regarding taking the next steps to create a permanent sports/entertainment venue on the Halifax Wanderers Grounds.  

The Halifax Wanderers and the Halifax Tides Football Clubs have proven to be a success for our city, both in providing community spirit, as well as driving economic benefits to several existing business districts, including Downtown Halifax. They have demonstrated that this previously under-utilized location works for professional sports, while also remaining a centre for other aspects of community life.  

Cities need art.

DHBC supports the Turret Arts Space Society turning 1588 Barrington Street into a living, breathing cultural hub of social stimulation and inclusion.

The new Turret Arts Space will house a critically engaged community where youth, artists, and the public can connect and thrive in a space that is physically, economically, and culturally accessible.

One of the four transformational moves outlined in the Vision 2030 document is "EVERYBODY'S NEIGHBOURHOOD." 

Another one of the four transformational moves outlined in the Vision document is "HARBOUR 365." 

Another one of the four transformational moves outlined in the Vision document is "ENTERTAINMENT CENTRAL." 

Downtown Halifax will be a nationally renowned destination for arts, culture, and entertainment. 

DHBC is waiting to see Discover Halifax's Year-Round Event Strategy (coming soon.)

1500+ Seat Performing Arts Centre

In the Fall of 2024 HRM released a “Performing and Visual Arts Venues Study.” For more information, click here. 

One of the four transformational moves outlined in the Vision 2030 document is "MOVE SMART." 

Getting to, and around Downtown is critical to its success!

DHBC supports the concept of a FREE Downtown shuttle, and wants to see a joint lobby position with HRM around obtaining provincial funding for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). 

Argyle Street: Pedestrian only year-round?

HRM Council has directed staff to work with DHBC, to determine whether Argyle Street should become a pedestrian (and bike and scooter?) only street, year-round, rather than seasonally. We are in the process of planning some engagement sessions. 

AAA Bike Network

Brunswick Street Complete Streets project: The municipality is enhancing safety and connectivity for all road users on Brunswick Street between Spring Garden Road and Cogswell Street. 

In June 2025, DHBC wrote a letter to Mayor Fillmore and Regional Council outlining the recommendation in the Vision 2030 report while "asking for HRM Council to consider investing in both micro-mobility and higher order transit and be ready to lean on the best evidence they can. This includes new data from internal staff and experts, and coordination with other orders of government. As this is done, even if that means further delays, we encourage you to maintain your commitment to vastly improved cycling/micro-mobility infrastructure."

To learn more about the Downtown Halifax Vision 2030, and how you can participate, visit https://downtownhalifax.ca/vision2030 

On October 28, 2025, 17 representatives from Canada’s major cities, including DHBC's CEO Paul MacKinnon, travelled to Parliament Hill in Ottawa to meet with leading decision-makers in the federal government to discuss solutions to the challenges facing downtowns and main streets.

Learn more, here. 

DHBC has a great relationship with the Chief of Police, Police Inspector and Downtown Halifax's Community Response Officers (CROs). Each year we host a "Town Hall" for our Members and the police working everyday to keep Downtown safe. It gives them a platform to discuss the issues affecting everyone and how we can work towards resolving it. 

For more information on who to call and when visit HRM’s Crime Reporting page. 

For 3+ years Dexter Construction has been tearing down overpasses, re-grading roads, making bike lanes, multi-use pathways and parks, slowly, but concisely, creating what we are now calling the NEW Cogswell District.  

As the road construction side of the project is starting to wrap-up, the big question now is - what will be built in this new district in the heart of Downtown Halifax?

In October 2025, DHBC was informed that the Cogswell District Land Use Policies amendments package was prepared and circulated to HRM staff for review. The next step is seeking approval from HRM Council before the end of 2025. 

DHBC worked closely with HRM's Cogswell Development team via monthly stakeholder sessions, and direct communication over the last 3-years. The last meeting (meeting #48) was held November 2025.

To see all the road closures and construction work involved in this massive project over the last few years, you can read our Cogswell Lowdown page. 

Cogswell Coalition's Gehl Report

In 2018, DHBC, along with many other stakeholders who make up what we refer to as the “Cogswell Coalition”, and HRM, hired world-renowned consultants, Gehl People, to make recommendations for the Cogswell District. Gehl presented at the Art of City Building conference, conducted site visits, and facilitated stakeholder meetings. The result was a 135-page report that provided recommendations to guide both public and private design moving forward.

Some of their recommendations on the public realm were incorporated into the final designs for parks and streets. The report also contains recommendations, which should influence this next phase.

You can read the Gehl Report here.

Read "Halifax's Bold Move" from 2015 here.