Commercial changes and their larger context in a gentrifying neighbourhood : tracking the transformation of Halifax, Canada’s North End

Abstract

The North End of Halifax has witnessed drastic changes to its urban landscape since the beginning of this millennium. Once a historically low-income neighbourhood, the North End now attracts a more affluent demographic of both residents and tourists. Development in the area has increased alongside an influx of new high-end stores, consequently altering the neighbourhood’s streetscape. By analyzing commercial change between 2009 and 2022, this thesis argues that the retail landscape contains valuable evidence of the tensions brought on by gentrification in the North End. To document retail change over the 13-year period, six primary retail streets are investigated through the use of Google Street View imagery. Classifying establishments in both years of study showed that retail gentrification in the North End has been primarily driven by the up-zoning of the neighbourhood, specifically through the introduction of new, mid- to high-rise, mixed-use buildings. Stores that target a demographic with a lower socio-economic status have notably decreased since 2009, while expensive retailers have increased. It is suggested that if governmental action is not taken to address these implications, the North End could soon cease to have any affordable commercial options.