Case 24619 - 53 Queen Street, Dartmouth

Request

Application by RHAD Architects on behalf of a property owner, requesting to enter into a heritage development agreement on lands at 53 Queen Street (PID 00108043) to permit a 142 unit, 90-metre mixed-use addition to the registered heritage property. 

Background

53 Queen Street, Dartmouth, also known as the former Dartmouth Post Office, was registered as a municipal heritage property in 2020. The property contains a two-storey sandstone building which was designed in the Edwardian Baroque style by John Ewart and constructed between 1914 and 1917. An addition was added along Queen Street in 1961. 

The applicant has applied to enter into a Development Agreement on the property to permit a 142 unit, 90-metre mixed-use addition to the registered heritage property. This development agreement is being sought in accordance with Policy CHR-7 of the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy (SMPS), which permits Council to consider a development agreement on any lot containing a registered heritage building to encourage the conservation and adaptive re-use of registered heritage buildings.

Development agreements are discretionary applications, meaning that they require the approval of Council to proceed. Staff are currently reviewing the development agreement application and will ultimately prepare a recommendation for Regional Council to consider. Before Regional Council can make any decision about the proposal, a public open house and a public hearing shall be held. This document outlines the process and public engagement requirements for a development agreement.

Proposal

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The applicant is proposing the construction of a mixed-use addition to the historic post office containing 142 residential units, two levels of underground parking, a publicly accessible open space along Queen Street, and landscaping. A key element of the proposal is the restoration and continued use of the registered heritage building. The restored building will be incorporated into the new development. 

If approved, the development agreement would allow the property owner to: 

•    Create a 90-metre mixed-use building in addition to the existing Dartmouth Post Office, which will be rehabilitated for new use.  

If approved, the development agreement may require the property owner to rehabilitate the registered heritage building at 53 Queen Street to its original form and design, and to follow specific building control parameters for the mixed-use addition, which will include such controls as height, mass, architectural design, lot coverage, and others. 

The applicant’s proposal also requires a separate heritage application which staff are processing concurrently. This type of application is required by the Nova Scotia Heritage Property Act when significant changes are proposed to a registered heritage property. The substantial alterations must be reviewed by HRM’s Heritage Advisory Committee and approved by Regional Council.

Both applications must be approved before the applicant can pursue the proposed development.

Process

Staff are currently reviewing the development agreement application and will ultimately prepare a recommendation for Regional Council to consider. Before Regional Council can make any decision about the proposal, a public open house and a public hearing shall be held. The public open house was held on April 13, 2023. Please check this website for updates on the public hearing date.

Staff are simultaneously processing an application to substantially alter the Dartmouth Post Office. In accordance with the Nova Scotia Heritage Property Act, a substantial alteration application must be reviewed by the Heritage Advisory Committee and approved by Regional Council before any registered heritage property is substantially altered. 

• Application Process

Status

The Heritage Development Agreement was recommended by Heritage Advisory Committee at their meeting held on February 27, 2024. The First Reading at Harbour East-Marine Drive Community Council was held on April 4, 2024. 

A Public Hearing has been scheduled for May 2, 2024, at the Harbour East – Marine Drive Community Council Meeting Space (Main Floor Alderney Landing, 60 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth) at 6pm. To submit correspondence, please email clerks@halifax.ca. 

Documents Submitted for Evaluation

The applicant has submitted plans and studies required by municipal staff to properly evaluate the application. The details of this application may change before consideration or approval by Regional Council. Updates or changes to the application will be posted on this website.