A crane here, a crane there. Soon enough, will there be a crane everywhere in Halifax Regional Municipality? Well, with the way things are looking right now, more cranes and construction sites will definitely have a place here in the next decade or so, as the region undergoes a significant transformation.
Developers are eyeing large stretches of land as potential in hopes of bringing new high-rises and mixed-use properties to the region currently facing a 1.9 per cent rental vacancy rate. Affordable housing projects will coincide with these private developments to add below-market level rental units to the rental supply. At the same time, the municipality is pushing projects like the Cogswell district redevelopment, with a plan to form a gateway from the north end all the way to downtown Halifax. These developments would bring hundreds of new apartments to the region, while also attracting new businesses, residents and visitors.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the major proposed and approved developments to keep an eye out for.
Penhorn Mall site transformation
It’s been a few years since Sears shut down in the Penhorn Mall, but only a couple of businesses have come forward to claim the space since then. But now, Clayton Developments and Crombie REIT have their eyes on the spot and are proposing a mixed-use development with low-, mid- and high-rise buildings to be built alongside existing retail and commercial buildings.
If approved, roughly 900 residential units and 45 townhouse units would be built within eight new development blocks off Portland Street in Dartmouth. An active transportation trail and multi-use greenway are also planned for the site. The application, submitted in December 2020, is currently under review by the municipality’s staff and “may change as a result of staff comments.”
Wyse Road, Dartmouth
A 20-storey mixed-use building is being proposed on the lands of 112 and 114 Wyse Rd. in Dartmouth. The plan for the flatiron development includes roughly 2,415 square metres of ground floor commercial space, a total of 160 residential units and underground parking. Fathom Studio, on behalf of the property owner, which HRM has not identified on its website, has requested to enter into a development agreement with the municipality to make way for the development. The application has been reviewed by internal municipal staff and public consultation for the project took place from Dec. 12, 2020 until Jan. 18, 2021. Next, a detailed review of the proposal, staff report, a first reading and public hearing at Harbour East - Marine Drive Community Council, followed by a decision by the community council on the development agreement are required, as per the municipality’s development agreement process.
Twin Lakes Development, Dartmouth
Despite staff recommendations, Twin Lakes Development got the green light for a 12-storey multi-unit dwelling in Dartmouth this February. Twin Lakes Development was initially granted a development agreement in 2006, but has since altered the plan to change where the building goes on the property and include more units. The buildings, joined by a pedway, are to offer 175 units — with at least 30 per cent being two or more bedrooms — and more than 200 underground parking spaces at its property on the corner of Prince Albert and Bartlin roads. There will also be nearly 800 square metres of commercial and office space on the ground floor.
Willett Street, Clayton Park
Two 17-storey buildings are to replace the round tower and adjacent apartment building on Willett Street in Clayton Park. The high-rise buildings will include one-, two- and three-bedrooms units for a total of 550, 350 underground parking spots and offer up space on the main floor for commercial use such as a cafe or convenience store. ZZap Consulting, on behalf of Hazelview Investments, redesigned its original site plan after receiving feedback from the community, as well as new zone requirements drafted by municipal staff. Recently, Halifax regional council approved rezoning for the development.
Halifax heritage property overhaul
Out with some of the old, in with the new. Joseph Arab is hoping to remove most of the back addition of Victoria Hall, while still keeping the rest of the heritage building intact. The Gottingen Street property owner plans to restore Victoria Hall’s aging characteristics, such as the windows and roof, and then build a 13-storey apartment tower at the back of the building. “The proposed design subtly picks up design cues from Victoria Hall while simultaneously acting as a quiet backdrop that allows the colourful, ornate heritage building to stand out,” the proposal reads. In March, council approved the plan to remove the back portion from the heritage property but Arab must still go through the development agreement process before anything else can be done.
Midtown North development
WSP, working on behalf of Westwood Construction Ltd., has requested to enter into a development agreement with HRM to “revitalize an area of the Halifax peninsula that is currently being underutilized.” The proposal is for five towers — ranging from two storeys to 25 — on three shared podiums on lands located between Almon and St. Albans streets. In total, the plan calls for 352 residential units. Parking is part of the plan as well, with two levels of underground parking in addition to a small surface parking lot. The plan also includes “a shared street concept along Clifton Green and at St. Albans and the King Street extension.” At the centre of Clifton Green will be a park space between residential uses and live/work studios, the proposal reads.
Redevelopment of former Bloomfield Centre property
Despite pushback from the community, HRM sold the 1.2-hectare former Bloomfield Centre property in Halifax’s north end to the Halef family-owned BANC Group of Companies in January. Plans for the mixed-use project were pretty well stipulated in the rules the municipality established in the bidding process for the property. As it currently stands, the proposed mixed-use development will include about 400 residential units, 10 per cent of which will be designated for affordable housing, about 20 per cent publicly accessible open space and 1,858 square metres of community and culture space, which will be leased at below-market rates. But the BANC Group isn’t planning an immediate start on the redevelopment of the site. According to Alex Halef, president of BANC Group, it’s very unlikely that work will begin on the site in 2021. “We don’t know what it will look like,” Halef previously told The Chronicle Herald. “We don’t even know how many buildings.”
Robie Street development
In May 2020, WSP, on behalf of Westwood Developments, submitted a revised proposal for a 23-storey, mixed-use building to fill the gap between two towers on Robie Street. The plan for the mixed-use building includes ground-floor commercial space, 102 residential units and two floors of underground parking. There will also be individual balconies, two levels of underground parking, a rooftop patio space and interior amenity spaces, which haven’t been defined yet. The project was initially introduced in 2014 and put on pause as the Centre Plan was still in the works with Halifax regional council. This January, HRM sought feedback, positive or negative, on the proposed high-rise. In a letter to HRM, Friends of Halifax Common called council’s decision to allow a development agreement for the project “discretionary” and said it should be cancelled. But the application has since been considered by the Halifax peninsula planning advisory committee, which recommended that Halifax and West Community Council approve the application with the following condition: “Design enhancements to improve pedestrian safety and the flow of traffic at the building access on Robie Street.”
Cogswell district redevelopment
In hopes of connecting Halifax’s downtown with the north end as well as the waterfront, HRM is planning to build a new neighbourhood in the place of the Cogswell Interchange. Urban design firm Gehl says the overhaul of the downtown Halifax area will dedicate nearly half of its space to open areas, like a neighbourhood park or courtyard, and shift the focus from car-oriented to active transportation friendly. Some semi-private and semi-commercial buildings are also to be built, but the buildings will be “made up of smaller buildings with multiple ground-level entrances.” Council approved the 90 per cent construction design in February 2019 and a construction tender was released to three pre-approved bidders earlier this year. The tender is expected to be awarded by the end of summer 2021, with construction of the large-scale project anticipated to begin in the fall of 2021.
Queen's Marque
At the edge of Halifax Harbour is an upcoming mixed-use development known as the Queen’s Marque district. Led by Armour Group Limited, in partnership with Develop Nova Scotia, the plan includes luxury leased residences and offices, food and beverage businesses, retail, a hotel, roughly 6,967 square metres of public space and a public art collection. The complex, which is bound by Prince, Lower Water and George streets, is expected to open in stages through the spring of 2021.
Cunard development on the Halifax waterfront
Southwest Properties was chosen by Develop Nova Scotia to develop the Cunard property at the southern end of the Halifax Harbourwalk, near the intersection of Lower Water Street and Morris Street. In keeping with its Bishop’s Landing development next door, Southwest Properties has plans to design “a dynamic mixed-use project for the property that will complement its surroundings and offer exciting new opportunities to enjoy the waterfront all year round.” In September 2020, Halifax regional council upheld an appeal of the proposed development, but unanimously passed a motion to support the building if the width for the proposed tower is decreased and design changes are made to the ground level along Lower Street. If the proposal is put forward again and approved, the development is to feature 200-plus rental units, above ground interior parking, street level and harbour side retail and public spaces along the Halifax waterfront. Develop Nova Scotia will then manage and operate approximately two acres of new, waterfront public space, welcoming locals and visitors of all ages to the waterfront.
Rapid Housing Initiative projects
Three non-profit organizations are to create affordable housing options for women, urban Indigenous people and African Nova Scotians thanks to funding through the federal government’s Rapid Housing Initiative agreement. The Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre is redeveloping its property at 5853 College St. in Halifax into a 30-bed shelter, 10-room shared and seven one- to two-bedroom units. Adsum Women and Children is expanding its existing women’s shelter in Lakeside from four residential units to 25. And the North End Community Health Association is going to convert a four-unit building on Maitland Street in Halifax to a 10-bedroom shared housing building aimed towards African Nova Scotians who experience chronic homelessness. All three projects are expected to be complete and occupied within the year.
