Ramp Up for Tear Down

Over the next five years, this committee met a total of 40 times and held about seven meetings with Africville residents in the Seaview African Baptist Church. A total of 71 citizens attended one or more meetings, but attendance at most meetings was low. The committee included several non-Africville people referred to as “caretakers,” four of whom were white (three university graduates and one tradesperson). The caretakers' role was to collect technical information and provide crucial advice; the three black caretakers had a high degree of black consciousness and were deeply concerned about discrimination.

The caretakers continued to question city policy toward Africville, exploring alternatives to relocation and various housing schemes, including the possibility of obtaining water and sewer services.

They suggested Dr. Albert Rose, Professor of Social Work, University of Toronto, be invited to Halifax. Rose, who wrote Regent Park: A Study in Slum Clearance, was appalled by what he saw in Africville and recommended the following:

The families with title to property would receive sufficient financial compensation to make a down payment on older homes in downtown Halifax.

Rental would be provided, if necessary, during a readjustment period, for families that sought admission to public housing.

Roughly half the Africville residents would arrange for their own housing and seek rental accommodation in Halifax or elsewhere in Nova Scotia.

And most crucial – The City Council of Halifax enunciate a clear policy that the community of Africville will be expropriated and cleared during the period commencing April 1, 1964 (or shortly thereafter) and that this process will be completed not later than December 31, 1966.

The Rose Report received editorial support from the Halifax newspaper, The Mail Star, on December 23, 1963.

As the new year began, Halifax City Council considered a motion to approve its Finance and Executive Committee’s recommendations that the Rose Report be approved in principle and that the appropriate administrative machinery be prepared for the implementation of the recommendations by April 1, 1964. – Minutes of the Halifax City Council, January 2, 1964

Council's vote was unanimous to accept the recommendations but also to make the following guarantees – “assurance that Africville families would not be relocated in areas designated for redevelopment; and payment of monthly rental to relocates for, if necessary, an indefinite period.”

January 9, 1964 – At a meeting at Seaview African Baptist Church, 37 Africville residents voted to accept the report.

The Mail Star reported that Council passed a motion authorizing relocation of Africville residents over a period of two years and nine months.
– Mail Star, January 17, 1964

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