Willow Tree Property Sold, Will Become 25-Storey Senior’s Home
HALIFAX—The Willow Tree Tower property at the corner of Robie Street and Quinpool Road has changed hands.
Shannex Inc. announced yesterday it had bought the “sought-after development” property from Armco Capital. It plans to tear down the tower already sitting there and build a 25-storey “active adult living community” called Parkland.
Shannex already operates a string of senior’s care facilities across the Maritimes.
Armco’s original plans for the Willow Tree property were to build a 25-storey tower, filled with “one, two, and three-storey apartments and ground-floor retail space.”
The controversial project required amendments to the city’s development rules, and had faced significant public opposition. However, Armco finalized its development agreement with the city in October, agreeing to contribute $1.8 million to an affordable housing fund instead of including 20 affordable housing units in the complex.
According to Shannex’s Katherine VanBuskirk, the sales agreement between Armco and Shannex keeps all the rules from the original development agreement intact.
That includes the 25-storey building height, an integrated bus shelter as part of the development, and the $1.8 million payment to the HRM.
VanBuskirk said the retirement community that will be built on the property will be based on concepts the company is already using in Ontario.
Shannex says an information session will be held “in the coming weeks” to provide more details.
Demolition of the existing building will begin soon, and the new tower is expected to open in 2024.