The Globe and Mail

When construction of Halifax's star-shaped Citadel was completed in 1856, the hilltop ramparts gave unrestricted views of the harbour. Today, the military fortification still defends the waterfront and the streets around it, but in a different manner. Real estate developers wanting to build downtown must comply with regulations that protect the "view planes" ringing the massive stone structure. New buildings must not be higher than the Citadel, nor can they obscure the view of the waterfront from the top of the fortifications. And visitors inside the parade ground cannot see any modern buildings -- a small detail, perhaps, but something that the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) says is important to retain the historic feeling of the site.