Fall 2020
- The three bidding proponents, approved in the fall of 2018 under a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), confirmed their continued interest in the project as well as their compliance with the terms of the original pre-qualification criteria.
- In alignment with recently adopted amendments (July 2020) to the municipality’s Procurement Policy, staff are exploring opportunities to include contract requirements in the tender that aim to achieve social benefits/impacts. Staff will be engaging with the Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian communities as well as construction industry associations to determine what is desired and can practically be achieved in this regard. Engagement with the African Nova Scotian and Mi-‘kmaw communities will also recommence on the Art and Commemoration Program for the Cogswell District.
- The Municipal Planning Strategy/Land Use By-law Amendments process for Cogswell will resume following completion of the Centre Plan “Package B” initiative and will include a discussion of affordable housing.
- The tender package is expected to be released by early 2021, based on the current timeline.
Summer 2020
- In May, Halifax Water’s application to establish a District Energy System (DES) utility received approval by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.
- In August, By-law D-500 Respecting District Energy was approved by Regional Council. The by-law is applicable to only the Cogswell District currently. It makes connection to the system mandatory for all development within the district.
- The District Energy System (DES) is an excellent example of an initiative which supports the goals of the recently adopted HalifACT
- With the adoption of the Rapid Transit Strategy in July, the inclusion of transit-only lanes within the project between Upper Water Street intersection and the Valour Way roundabout are now being included in the project. The curb lanes will be designated for transit-only use. An adjustment to the Barrington Greenway, by removing one of the treed medians, is necessary to accommodate this change.
- A Purchase and Sale Agreement and Construction Agreement have been signed with the Department of National Defence (DND) for lands required to construct the Valour Way roundabout. Negotiations with Crombie REIT for lands required to construct Granville Park, the Transit Hub, and a portion of Proctor Street are near completion and will conclude before release of the project tender.
Spring 2020
The Cogswell project team is continuing negotiations for required parcels of land. A date for tender release has not yet been determined, pending the conclusion of land negotiations. Please note: Land negotiations are continuing despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Updates will continue to be posted to this page as progress is made.
The graphic below offers a general timeline and key milestones for the project.
Cogswell District timeline
Winter 2020
Per Council direction, municipal staff members are working to issue the deconstruction and construction tender. Further details regarding timing and specifics of the construction efforts can only be determined after the tender is awarded, following discussions with the selected contractor.
Given the size and scope of this multi-year project, significant due diligence must be completed prior to issuing the tender. An extensive review process by multiple municipal departments is required, as well as engagement with external partners and agencies to help ensure the project proceeds as smoothly as possible.
Staff are currently working to finalize land negotiations.
Spring 2019
Significant public engagement informed the approved design plan for the Cogswell District. Building on this, residents will be asked to provide input on planning policies, regulations, and design requirements for the area – including rules that will guide the design and use of buildings. The development of detailed land use policy is being reviewed and considered as part of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law amendment process. The target is to complete the process well in advance of the sale of the first development block.
Specific dates and locations for upcoming engagement opportunities will be announced in the fall. More information: Strategy for upcoming public engagement.
Mid-Winter 2019
On February 26, 2019 Regional Council approved the 90% construction design plan and gave direction to proceed with tendering construction services for the project.
View presentation to Regional Council and staff report.
The approved design plan addresses public realm elements including accessibility, public art and commemorative features, parks and open spaces, multi-use paths, streetscapes, and a transit hub for the new neighbourhood. It also details the phases for construction of the project.
Detailed land use policy, including finalizing the rules that will guide the design and use of buildings in the Cogswell District, will be reviewed and considered in the coming months as part of the Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Land Use By-law (LUB) amendment process. The target is to complete the process well in advance of the sale of the first development block.
Staff have been directed by Council to proceed with issuing the deconstruction and construction tender (targeted for early April 2019). Awarding of the contract is anticipated by mid-summer, with work targeted to begin in early fall 2019.
Council also directed staff to continue with public engagement to finalize placemaking and commemoration aspects of the Cogswell District. In particular, focus will be placed on completing ongoing engagement with the Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian communities. Staff will return to Council with a report regarding timeline, phasing construction to align with other street recapitalization projects, and options to fund the Cogswell Greenway including potential use of development charges on adjacent development sites.
Late Fall/ Early Winter 2019
In addition to undertaking a robust public engagement initiative in the summer and fall of 2018, municipal staff participated in an external review process carried out in partnership with the Downtown Halifax Business Commission, Development Nova Scotia and 13 other key stakeholders. The Cogswell project team and WSP worked with Gehl, an urban design firm, and the stakeholder group for several months on a review of the approved 60 per cent design concept. The primary objective was to identify potential improvements to the design for the Cogswell District, specifically regarding public realm and building design.
The Gehl report was released to the public on Feb. 5, 2019 by the stakeholder group.
As staff work to complete the 90 per cent design, the recommendations of the Gehl report will be considered along with the public input captured in FBM’s Engagement Report.
It is anticipated the staff report regarding the 90 percent design will be presented to Regional Council in February. The staff report will contain details regarding staff’s review of the Gehl recommendations and those that have been included in the design. Further comment on any details in the Gehl report or the 90 per cent design cannot be shared publicly in advance of it being presented to, and deliberated by, Regional Council.
Summer/ Fall 2018
At the direction of Regional Council, staff engaged in a collaborative public engagement initiative to inform the 90 per cent design plan. From August through October 2018, input was sought on two topics: public spaces and urban design rules for new buildings in the Cogswell District.
Thoughtful feedback from residents resulted in roughly 100 ideas about parks, plazas, streetscapes, greenways, public art, and commemoration of history within the area. Residents also provided input on building designs, which will help inform next steps with future engagement regarding the Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Land Use By-laws (LUB) associated with Cogswell District.
All ideas and feedback are summarized in the Engagement Report prepared by Fowler, Bauld & Mitchell (FBM).
Spring 2018
Halifax Regional Council approved the 60 per cent design plan on June 5, 2018.
Design details focused on parks and open spaces:
- Active transportation (AT) – bikeway and multi-use trail
- Streetscapes – street trees, sidewalks, linear plaza, street furniture and street lights
- Enhanced transit hub
The 60 per cent design Concept Plan was presented as part of public engagement sessions held in April-May of 2018.
The 60 per cent design plan does not include details regarding building design. Land uses and building heights are governed by the existing DH-1 zoning. Amendments to the Downtown Halifax Zoning By-law will be considered in the coming months and will follow the standard planning amendment process including opportunities for public input.
A three-phased construction plan has been developed which maintains key north-south and east-west connections through the project site during all phases of construction. Traffic analysis associated with the phasing plan will be completed for the 60 per cent decision. Significant efforts will be made to help mitigate traffic congestion throughout the Cogswell corridor during construction. At this time, it is anticipated that the project will not require alternate traffic routes beyond the project boundary during any phase of construction.
Tentative agreements have been reached with Halifax Water and the Department of National Defense regarding land acquisitions necessary to implement the Cogswell District plan. Negotiations continue with Crombie REIT Limited regarding property to enable development of Granville Square – the large urban square at the south end of the district. Design details for Granville Square will be finalized following the conclusion of these negotiations.
Summer 2017
The Cogswell Steering Committee approved the 30 per cent design development milestone for Cogswell Redevelopment Project on June 19, 2017 which confirmed the road network layout along with the location of the major design elements.
To date, design efforts have focused on urban design, open space, connectivity, development blocks, transit and alternative transportation. The approved 30 per cent design was developed in consultation with municipal staff from all key business units to ensure alignment with the objectives of key plans and strategies, including: