[Halifax] The Olympic (1140 Barrington) | 26 m | 8 fl | U/C

[Dmajackson]

HalifaxDevelopments.ca (Photo by David Jackson)

[Dmajackson]

This is on my regular downtown walking route so I post updates of it way more often then is cross-posted onto this forum.


HalifaxDevelopments.ca (Photo by David Jackson)

[worldlyhaligonian]

This photo might not be the most recent, but it shows the potential of this area.



A tower on the Tim Horton's site would add great density to this area with transit and grocery stores.

This area has always felt like south downtown, even though there isn't anything of height immediately until you go up the hill to the Vuze (which I consider to be South end proper).

[someone123]

It's a funny area. It has some gems, like the rowhouses on Smith St. I used to like the Victorians next to that CBBC building that were unfortunately torn down. I wonder if that was for land assembly purposes and those lots will be redeveloped together. The gas station is unfortunate.

The little commercial blob around Queen Street is strange with a bunch of prominent parking lots in the middle of what is a pretty dense area with a fair amount of new construction. Halifax hasn't seen a lot of the kind of development that would be good there, a mixed-use complex with a full-sized grocery store with underground parking. It's hard to believe that wouldn't be a more economical use of the Queen St Sobeys site, although maybe it would need some height allowance.

[Liam MacDonald]

I got some images of this on March 1st, 2026

[connect2source]

The Olympic July 7 2026
Brick cladding well underway.
Photo By Me :

[ArchAficionado]

Holding out hope for this one. I think it will come down to the final finishes to determine whether the victorian-esque bay windows and mansard make this development look unique or just tacky.

This is a good size for the area though, and nice to see they are keeping / hopefully restoring the older house on the corner there.

Would love to see a multi-unit development with the superstore property, and converting that to a podium/urban forma store with multi-level/underground parking.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by ArchAficionado

Holding out hope for this one. I think it will come down to the final finishes to determine whether the victorian-esque bay windows and mansard make this development look unique or just tacky.

This is a good size for the area though, and nice to see they are keeping / hopefully restoring the older house on the corner there.

Would love to see a multi-unit development with the superstore property, and converting that to a podium/urban forma store with multi-level/underground parking.

It's not too bad in person, the massing and scale work well and materials look to be of decent quality, turning out better than I thought so far.

Big yes to a redevelopment of the Superstore lot, huge waste for the area, so close to the seaport, harbour and south end, would be an epic change for the area! Now basically a suburban, car-centric aging eyesore.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Big yes to a redevelopment of the Superstore lot, huge waste for the area, so close to the seaport, harbour and south end, would be an epic change for the area! Now basically a suburban, car-centric aging eyesore.

IIRC it was built on a poorly used piece of land when demand was low. It fit the needs of the area at the time, and I believe it is still quite busy. People on here like to dish on the format, but don’t take context into account.

That said, it’s probably time for redevelopment to a new format that doesn’t compromise the function and accessibility of the grocery store, but makes better use of the land. IMHO it should still retain significant parking capacity for customers, as not everyone bikes to a grocery store, especially those with families of 4-plus where a grocery order can be sizeable.

In the end that will come down to a business decision by the owners of the store/land. If they are not interested, it won’t happen, just like all other developments in the city.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by ArchAficionado

Holding out hope for this one. I think it will come down to the final finishes to determine whether the victorian-esque bay windows and mansard make this development look unique or just tacky.

This is a good size for the area though, and nice to see they are keeping / hopefully restoring the older house on the corner there.

Would love to see a multi-unit development with the superstore property, and converting that to a podium/urban forma store with multi-level/underground parking.

I completely agree on all of this. The building is definitely turning out better than expected.

[someone123]

Mansard roofs on modern infill buildings have a negative connotation for me so I was sceptical of this one but it does seem nicer than expected so far.

This area is kind of frustrating because it has some nice historic architecture and a good location, the park, etc., but the Superstore and pockets of demolition make it hit and miss. The Elmwood might have a big positive impact and is a style of adaptive reuse that this neighbourhood could use more of. It's good that this project saved one house as well.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

That said, it’s probably time for redevelopment to a new format that doesn’t compromise the function and accessibility of the grocery store, but makes better use of the land. IMHO it should still retain significant parking capacity for customers, as not everyone bikes to a grocery store, especially those with families of 4-plus where a grocery order can be sizeable.

I travel to Vancouver often and gradually all of their urban grocery stores, built in the 60s - 70s during the car centric days, are most if not all being redeveloped. Typically the store brand and size is retained, parking is moved underground and is kept and roughly the same number of stalls are retained, and even in a crazy expensive city like Vancouver, Sobeys brands which are Safeway and Thrifty there, keep parking free so no change to accessibility for drivers. What changes is the density, typically housing above, structure built to the street with additional retail creating and complete urban streetscape and an exponential improvement to the overall appearance and quality of life in a given neighbourhood.

Only downside being the loss of the grocery outlet for 3-5 years. I feel the area around the Queen Street Sobeys could benefit from a similar redevelopment.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by connect2source

I travel to Vancouver often and gradually all of their urban grocery stores, built in the 60s - 70s during the car centric days, are most if not all being redeveloped. Typically the store brand and size is retained, parking is moved underground and is kept and roughly the same number of stalls are retained, and even in a crazy expensive city like Vancouver, Sobeys brands which are Safeway and Thrifty there, keep parking free so no change to accessibility for drivers. What changes is the density, typically housing above, structure built to the street with additional retail creating and complete urban streetscape and an exponential improvement to the overall appearance and quality of life in a given neighbourhood.

Only downside being the loss of the grocery outlet for 3-5 years. I feel the area around the Queen Street Sobeys could benefit from a similar redevelopment.

I agree that this sounds like a good outcome for the future, although the inconvenience to area residents without a car would be palpable during construction. I would like to see an additional urban format grocery store be built in the downtown area before this is redeveloped.

I have the impression as downtown population has been increasing that the area is underserved by grocers. IIRC, in the downtown there is only this store, the aforementioned Sobeys on Queen, Pete’s on SGR, and a small format store in the Maple. Unless I am forgetting something major, that’s it. I have long hoped that there could be something added/reinstated to Scotia Square, but I am not sure how doable that would be at this point.

[JC1994]

.

[JC1994]

I travel to Vancouver often and gradually all of their urban grocery stores, built in the 60s - 70s during the car centric days, are most if not all being redeveloped.

I wouldn't be surprised if this one gets redeveloped given Choice Properties REIT portfolio. Mostly in Ontario and Alberta for the residential, but they have several large redevelopments like this. I agree it would make a lot of sense. Even a store in the Cogswell District, if that ever becomes available to developers, could act as a conduit.

I've longed for this area to be utilized, the whole way to the other side of the tracks by the seaport. The low-rise density is growing in the middle (park area), so adding height around that would make for an eclectic intermediary to some surrounding nodes. (please with some character for the love of Jod).

[ArchAficionado]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

IIRC it was built on a poorly used piece of land when demand was low. It fit the needs of the area at the time, and I believe it is still quite busy. People on here like to dish on the format, but don’t take context into account.

That said, it’s probably time for redevelopment to a new format that doesn’t compromise the function and accessibility of the grocery store, but makes better use of the land. IMHO it should still retain significant parking capacity for customers, as not everyone bikes to a grocery store, especially those with families of 4-plus where a grocery order can be sizeable.

In the end that will come down to a business decision by the owners of the store/land. If they are not interested, it won’t happen, just like all other developments in the city.

Definitely agree. The lot is probably big enough that they could build a new store with tower on top and keep the old store open (although sacrificing majority of the parking) then demolish the old store and build a second tower once the first is substantially progressed.

See below for example of urban format loblaws in toronto (free underground parking w/ cart elevators). Such a format is common in many larger cities in the US and Canada. Interestingly enough this one is actually within the maple leaf gardens (former Leafs Venue).

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6618242,..._ep=EgoyMDI2MDcwNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by ArchAficionado

See below for example of urban format loblaws in toronto (free underground parking w/ cart elevators). Such a format is common in many larger cities in the US and Canada. Interestingly enough this one is actually within the maple leaf gardens (former Leafs Venue).

Been there many times. There's an LCBO store on the second floor too.

That's a gargantuan Loblaws, by the way.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

That's a gargantuan Loblaws, by the way.

I bet the produce section is scintillating!

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by ArchAficionado

Definitely agree. The lot is probably big enough that they could build a new store with tower on top and keep the old store open (although sacrificing majority of the parking) then demolish the old store and build a second tower once the first is substantially progressed.

See below for example of urban format loblaws in toronto (free underground parking w/ cart elevators). Such a format is common in many larger cities in the US and Canada. Interestingly enough this one is actually within the maple leaf gardens (former Leafs Venue).

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6618242,..._ep=EgoyMDI2MDcwNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

I like your idea of how to build while keeping the store functional.

Great example of urban format with a side of repurposing a famous historical building. At some point in time I need to run a shopping cart over center ice! Do you think they would frown if I brought my old Sherwood hockey stick into the store? A ceremonial face off might be in order…

[Keith P.]

Back to the project, as much as you might dislike the faux-Victorian mansard frosting and decorative window bays down low layered on to a typical HRM box apartment, it is still a damn site better than the Highfield Park Special built across the street from it on the north side, from back about 20 years ago when that was all HRM planning liked to allow.