Updated:
Request
Application by Fathom Studio, on behalf of the property owner, requesting to enter into a development agreement to enable an internal conversion of the commercial office space into three additional units in an existing 40-unit residential building at 59 Main Avenue, Halifax.
Proposal
The applicant is requesting to enter into a development agreement at 59 Main Avenue, Halifax (PID 00180612) to enable an internal conversion creating three additional residential units in an existing 40-unit building.
The major aspects of the proposal are as follows:
- Convert existing commercial office space into three residential units, without any change to the existing building’s scale or volume, resulting in a total of 43 units.
- Conformance with all relevant requirements of the Suburban Housing Accelerator Land Use By-law.
This application is being considered through policy for Transit-oriented Suburban Area Opportunity Site which came into effect January 31, 2026, in the Regional Municipal Planning Strategy. Policy SA-2B of the Regional Plan allows council to consider entering into a development agreement for proposals for primarily residential buildings within the Suburban Area and the Urban Service Boundary. Policy SA-3B further directs HRM to consider local context when applying the built form and land use requirements of the Housing Accelerator zone and applicable sections of the Suburban Housing Accelerator Land Use By-law.
A Suburban Community Planning program is currently underway, which involves a comprehensive planning process to develop a vision and future land use structure for all of Suburban HRM. Given the present housing shortage, Transit-oriented Suburban Area Opportunity Site policies provide additional opportunity to allow developments to proceed in the interim where they are aligned with the Suburban Community Planning Vision and Core Concepts and can meet accelerated project start and completion timelines.
The development plans (provided below) outline the development proposal in detail, and include information related to the project rationale, traffic impact, servicing, stormwater and groundwater.
Process
The application will be considered under the Development Agreement process.
Status
Currently this application is at the team review stage of the process where the request is reviewed by internal municipal staff as well as external agencies.
Documents Submitted for Evaluation
The applicant has submitted plans and studies required by HRM staff to properly evaluate the application. The documents are also available for review at the Planning Applications office at 5251 Duke Street, Halifax, Suite 300.
December, 2025
Contact Information
For further information, please contact:
Mailing Address
HRM Planning Applications
PO Box: 1749,
Halifax,
Nova Scotia,
B3J 3A5
Attention: Ronan Grey