Plans change for Dartmouth residential towers
DARTMOUTH, N.S. — A developer is looking to make some changes to its proposed residential towers overlooking Dartmouth Cove.
W.M. Fares Architects on behalf of Mosaik Properties is looking to get permission from the local HRM community council to make some changes to a development at 42 Canal St. by Dartmouth Cove.
Originally, the plan was for a 30-storey tower with two seven-storey towers, which would have 390 residential units and ground-floor commercial space. Now, they’re proposing to keep the 30-storey tower but replace the two mid-rise towers with one 11-storey building.
The application appeared in front of the Harbour East-Marine Drive community council on Thursday night because the developer is looking for several exemptions from the regional centre land-use bylaw to make this work.
The community council approved a notice of motion to proceed and schedule a public hearing.
It passed very quickly but Coun. Tony Mancini (Harbourview-Burnside-Dartmouth East) said there will be plenty more discussion on this item when it returns with the public hearing.
The developer says the changes are needed to ensure the project meets the permitted density (it is in the Dartmouth Cove future growth node) while also making sure there is enough space for a pedestrian thoroughfare. The project involves a pedestrian walkway and landscaped open space on private land from Canal to Maitland streets.
Vision for the road extention
HRM’s guiding plans for this area include “strong relationships to the waterfront, open spaces, trails, downtown Dartmouth, and adjacent neighbourhoods.”
An extension of Dundas Street across Alderney Drive to Maitland Street is a part of this vision.
“This extension will be called Patuo’qn Street and will include a crossing over the Shubenacadie Canal,” staff wrote in their report.
Some of the land required for this extension has been purchased by HRM but staff say that property acquisition is ongoing for the area from Canal Street to Maitland Street, as well as temporary and permanent easements.
Neighbouring towers
Mosaik was also approved for a 30-storey tower and a smaller tower at 11 Canal St. in January, 2023. These buildings will share a podium and will have about 250 residential units and underground parking.
A spokesman for W.M. Fares told the community council at the time that they’re planning for the construction of the buildings to happen at the same time as HRM starts the street upgrades — likely in 2025.
