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An American company is interested in developing a billion-dollar complex with a CFL-sized stadium, hotels and housing.
Ridgehaven Holdings met with local and federal politicians about the project, but the site they wanted near the airport off Highway 102 is no longer an option. Clayton Developments is part of the current group owning the land in question. They met with the company last year, but decided not to go ahead.
“The details and the data that would be required to proceed with a project of that magnitude was never fully completed, so we basically decided to move on and use the land for other purposes,” Jason Brunt, president of Clayton Developments, told CBC News in an interview on Tuesday.
Brunt says they are planning for a mixed-use housing community on the land when services are ready.
CBC news has contacted Ridgehaven, but have not received a response. The company is the latest group to float the idea of a stadium. Previously, Schooner Sports and Entertainment sought municipal and provincial funding to build a CFL-friendly complex in Shannon Park by 2022, but it never materialized.
Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore told reporters on Tuesday he met with the Ridgehaven group last month, but there are no official plans are in front of the city yet. Fillmore said his first thought was no public money, but that a stadium would have regional benefits.
“It brings tourism, it fills hotel rooms, it makes restaurants busy,” Fillmore told reporters.
Premier Tim Houston told reporters on May 21 the group spoke with the provincial government, but there are no specific requests yet.
He said if the project were to bring things that have a dual purpose like water, sewer and roads, “that may fit the bill.”
“Those are discussions we’re willing to have. I haven’t personally had any of those discussions, but I’m intrigued by it,” Houston said.
Nova Scotia MP and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Sean Fraser told reporters on Tuesday a pitch was also made in Ottawa.
“If anybody’s interested in doing business in Nova Scotia, we’re obviously going to take the phone call. But at this stage, it’s in the preliminary phase of planning site selection,” Fraser said.
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