Here Are The Plans For The 20-Storey Tower At The Foot Of Macdonald Bridge
DARTMOUTH — A Dartmouth property owner plans to build a 20-storey tower across the street from the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge.
Alex Dunphy has submitted plans to the Halifax Regional Municipality for a large tower on the corner of Wyse Road and Nantucket Avenue.
Fathom Studios, the design firm shepherding the project through Halifax’s development process, is positioning it as a major upgrade for an underutilized plot of land that could mark the start of a significant transformation in the neighbourhood.
Right now, the plan is to build a 20-storey tower on two lots at 112 and 114 Wyse Road. The tower, which sill stretch well above other buildings in the area, will house a mix of residential units and ground-floor commercial space.
In total, the building would hold 160 living units. That includes 41 two-bedroom units, 94 one-bedrooms, and 25 bachelor units.
Most of the ground floor will be wrapped in storefronts, with a total of 26,000 square feet of retail space available.
The building will also have underground parking for 100 vehicles
The two properties that make up the proposed building site sit next to the Zatzman Sportplex and across the street from the MacDonald Bridge. Records show the entire lot was sold in December of 2018 for $1,843,500.
In a presentation outlining the project, Fathom Studios called the lot “a bustling future center neighborhood for Dartmouth” that is “soon to become the connecting tissue… joining the downtown with the North End.”
Fathom said the tower’s “flatiron” design fits well on the curved lot and that with its entrance pointing towards the harbour the tower will be “a beacon for people arriving from the MacDonald Bridge.”
Fathom also argues the corner is “not currently built with a pedestrian focus” and that the development will make the area more inviting for people on foot.
Members of the public have already had one chance to weigh in on the project, through a public engagement process held from late 2020 until early 2021.
About 50 people gave their opinions, expressing a mix of excitement and annoyance with the plan.
“I like that this building will animate a prominent corner. The plaza at the MacDonald Bridge does not say ‘Welcome to Dartmouth,’ it is desolate and gray, reinforcing the stereotype that Dartmouth is a second-class part of the city,” one respondent said.
“The only problem with the proposed building is that all of the other buildings will look like extra garbage once it’s built.”
Others were less enthusiastic.
“This building has the potential to be an eyesore. A flatiron design is not intended for this type of neighbourhood. A towering building at that intersection will not feel welcoming to people who don’t live in the building at all. It will cause shadows in the morning, line of sight problems for traffic,” one respondent said.
As is often the case with large developments, many respondents also highlighted the need for affordable housing and said they hoped it would be included in the project.
“I see no mention at all of any affordable housing units. This developer will make a profit off municipal infrastructure such as the bus terminal and [Zatzman Sportsplex], meaning they will be able to charge a premium for tiny units. Expected rents will far exceed the average income of the neighbourhood,” a respondent said.
So far, the team behind the project doesn’t appear to be including affordable units.
With public engagement complete, HRM staff are now preparing a report on the project to present to council.