Suggested reading:
https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax...ifax-plan-area
https://www.thestar.com/halifax/2019...dartmouth.html
- Schedule S-1: Downtown Halifax Design Manual
"2.2 Precinct 2: Barrington Street South The following general criteria shall apply: a. Retain, and to respect in future development, the small to mid-size types of buildings, or the effect achieved by buildings of that size range, and their relationship to the street, that currently exists along Barrington Street. Buildings that occupy larger floorplates and frontages should have design elements that replicate the existing rhythm of individual storefronts along the street. b. Ensure that buildings create an animated streetscape through active ground floor uses and pedestrian scaled design features. c. Infill development along Hollis Street should be of a similar scale and type as that found on Barrington Street. d. New development shall appropriately frame Cornwallis Park and respect the train station as a historic landmark."
"3.1.3 Streetwall Height To ensure a comfortable human-scaled street enclosure, streetwall height should generally be no less than 11 metres and generally no greater than a height proportional (1:1) to the width of the street as measured from building face to building face. Accordingly, maximum streetwall heights are defined and correspond to the varying widths of downtown streets – generally 15.5m, 17m or 18.5m. Consistent with the principle of creating strong edges to major public open spaces, a streetwall height of 21.5m is permitted around the perimeter of Cornwallis Park."
I love these rules:
"g. Stucco and stucco-like finishes shall not be used as a principle exterior wall material. h. Vinyl siding, plastic, plywood, concrete block, EIFS (exterior insulation and finish systems where stucco is applied to rigid insulation), and metal siding utilizing exposed fasteners are prohibited. i. Darkly tinted or mirrored glass is prohibited. Clear glass is preferrable to light tints. Glare reduction coatings are preferred."
Greater Halifax has a 27 storey height limit although many sites are severely restricted to buildings under 6 storeys.