The African Nova Scotian community has long struggled with displacement and erasure when it comes to urban planning. In Halifax, racism has influenced planning and civic governance decisions. The demolition of Africville in the 1960s and subsequent expropriation without compensation are well-documented examples of injustices.
The Halifax Regional Municipality issued a formal apology in 2015, yet racism persists. In the years since, there has been little substantial action to emplace African Nova Scotian residents in Downtown Halifax.
The Cogswell District Project is a new opportunity to heal historic divides. The project is a mixed-use residential district planned on the site of the former Cogswell highway interchange in downtown Halifax.
