The why behind the highrise living that’s popping up around Halifax

Halifax eyes new high-density communities to ease its housing crisis, but planners warn it could take 10–15 years before real progress is seen.

As Halifax continues its rapid transformation to meet historic housing demands, cranes above intersections have become a defining feature of the skyline.

But the city’s future doesn’t rest solely in highrises.

Across the region, planners and developers are eyeing green fields and underused spaces as opportunities for new neighbourhoods — designed from the ground up to accommodate tens of thousands of new residents.

Rob LeBlanc, planning director at Fathom Studio, says his team is working hard to create more housing. “In our office alone, we’re working on master planning about 65,000 units in Atlantic Canada,” he said.

In Moncton alone, the plan includes a proposed 16,000 units.

That includes major developments like Bedford Common with 6,800 proposed homes, and Exhibition Park, which could see upwards of 5,000 units.

These are just a few pieces of Halifax’s Centre Plan, which is the city’s blueprint to manage growth and build sustainable, high-density communities.

They’re envisioned not just as places to live but as complete neighbourhoods, with schools, grocery stores, daycares, and other facilities. “You’ll see new downtowns develop in what might have been a green-filled area or a small suburban neighbourhood,” said LeBlanc.