Westwood’s 23-Storey Tower In Halifax Moving Forward
HALIFAX – Plans to build a highrise tower on the corner of Robie Street and Quinpool Road are once again moving forward.
Earlier this week, the project cleared a hurdle when it received conditional approval from the Halifax Peninsula Planning Advisory Committee.
Westwood, the local developer for the project, hopes to build a 23-storey, mixed-use tower from 2032 to 2050 Robie Street. The new tower would house 102 residential units, with commercial space on the ground floor and possibly the second storey.
The project has been in the works, in some form, since at least 2014, when Westwood first drew up designs for a tower on the site.
Over the next few years, progress on the project slowed as Westwood became “more actively focused on the advancement of other project files,” according to Halifax city staff.
The plans and design of the tower have also undergone revisions over the years in response to council decisions and public input.
In its latest application for a development permit on the Robie Street property, Westwood says the small floorplate and design of its proposed tower “creates an elegant form and adds to the skyline view around the Halifax Commons.”
They say the tower presents “a slender form that tapers upwards, preserving air space and minimizing shadow impacts on adjacent lands.”
The impact on the Halifax Commons of a highrise on the property has been a point of contention plaguing the project.
When Westwood held public information sessions on previous potential tower designs, members of the public expressed opposition, mainly stemming from concerns the tower would cast significant shadows on the Commons.
Recently, in an open letter, Friends of the Halifax Commons called on the council to stop the project, saying shorter, medium-density infill would be more appropriate on the site.
Halifax city staff have also expressed concerns about a tower on the property.
In earlier reports on the project, staff argued the characteristics of the Robie Street property don’t necessarily lend themselves to a highrise tower.
“The Robie Street property is located mid-block, backs on the existing low-density buildings on Parker Street, has frontage only on a single street, and has a shallow property depth. Additionally, the north-south orientation of the property can impact shadows on the adjacent Commons to the east,” staff pointed out.
Although the Robie Street Property falls within the area covered by the city’s new Centre Plan, in 2019 council made special rules that allowed a tower on the site, against the recommendation of city staff.
“Given the length of time the application has been in process and noting that key concerns cannot be addressed through design given the spatial limitations of the property, staff does not recommend proceeding with this application,” staff said in a report.
“Staff advise that the physical limitations of this property mean that a mid-rise building form would be most appropriate for the site.”
In its recent development application letter, Westwood points out the tower width for its new design is “significantly reduced” from the original application and is smaller than the maximum tower area allowed on the site.
The company says its design contains several elements that address the context of the site, including a two-storey podium that creates a “defined street presence” and provides setbacks from nearby low-rise buildings.
It also notes its design elements that mitigate wind impacts and argues the building will be supported by nearby amenities and fulfills the city’s planning goals of densifying within the regional centre.
The February 22 Halifax Peninsula Planning Advisory Committee weighing in on Westwood’s application was held virtually and no live broadcast was available to the public.
Draft minutes from the meeting indicate the committee was concerned about the potential impact on pedestrian safety and traffic flow resulting from the project.
Although the committee recommended Halifax and West Community Council approve the development application, it did so on the condition that Westwood provides design enhancements “to improve pedestrian safety and the flow of traffic at the building access on Robie Street.”