Halifax Council Wants Vendors In Ferry Terminal Park
HALIFAX — Painters, photographers, jewelers, and other artisans could soon be allowed to sell their wares in Dartmouth’s Ferry Terminal Park.
Halifax Regional Council gave first reading today to a bylaw amendment establishing nine new vending sites, specifically for artisans, beside the ferry terminal in downtown Dartmouth.
Local artisans have been asking the municipality for permission to set up temporary stalls in Dartmouth during the summer. However, there are no vending licenses for downtown Dartmouth currently available.
Right now, the city allows artisans and craftspeople to buy vending licenses for nine sites at Sackville Landing, 10 sites at Nathan Greene Square, and 26 sites on Spring Garden Road.
The nine new sites at Dartmouth’s Ferry Terminal Park will be located east of the ferry terminal building, adjacent to the green space.
Voicing his support for the changes, Coun. Sam Austin said the licenses will help make Ferry Terminal Park a more lively space.
“It’s basically a low-cost place-making [initiative] where someone else will enliven out park space and maybe they make a few bucks selling their art,” Austin said.
Like all vending licenses available through this bylaw, licenses for the new sites will be valid from May through October each year.
In their report to council, staff recommended each license cost $100.
As part of the first reading council gave the vending bylaw changes, members also gave their blessing to a new food truck space on Agricola Street in Halifax.
Should the changes pass final reading, a food truck will be allowed to set up on the east side of Agricola Street, 20 metres south of Charles Street.
Before ultimately supporting the changes, Coun. Matt Whitman expressed his concern new vendor locations could frustrate nearby, “365-day-a-year” businesses.
“I can imagine an art store may not want an art vendor popping up across the street, or a restaurant may not want a barbecue place popping up across the street,” he said.
HRM staff said there are guiding principles laid out in the bylaw for considering new vendor locations that include some of his concerns.