Finding new uses for old houses
By JOANN ALBERSTAT Business Reporter
Wed, Jul 13 - 4:53 AM
MORE OWNERS OF older homes in downtown Halifax are interested in turning their properties into mixed-use developments, despite the amount of time and money involved in getting planning approval, says a Halifax architect.
Nicholas Fudge of Geoff Keddy and Associates is working on a project at 1580 Queen St. that has been in the works since last September. The municipality’s design review committee is expected to approve the proposal Thursday.
The three-storey building now houses a two-level apartment, with an artist’s studio on the top floor. The renovation includes an addition to the front of the building to add commercial space.
"I think you’ll see more of this type of work being done on the old stock of housing that’s close to commercial zones," Fudge said in an interview.
The Queen Street building, located across from Royal Artillery Park, is owned by artist Marilyn McAvoy and her husband, musician Dave Marsh. The property is assessed at $398,700, according to provincial property records.
McAvoy said Tuesday she is looking for a place to move her studio, although she hopes to return to Queen Street one day.
"I really love the area. I love what’s going on in this area," said the painter, who lives nearby.
McAvoy, who has owned the building for about eight years, said the new commercial space could house a wine bar or restaurant. The cost of the project wasn’t disclosed.
Fudge said he is hoping small downtown developments like McAvoy’s will be approved faster once the municipality makes planned changes to HRM by Design rules, approved in June 2009.
"They’re actually making amendments to the site plan approval process. Right now, they don’t differentiate between a 20-storey building and a woman who’s doing a small addition to house."
A public consultation held in April attracted one person and wasn’t needed for such a small project, the architect said.
The proposed project would include 1,300 square feet of commercial space on the first two floors, with a 750-square-foot apartment on the third storey.
The vinyl siding will be replaced with red cedar, perforated metal and fibre concrete panels. An outside staircase that will serve as the apartment entrance and fire exit will be metal and wrapped in a wooden screen.
"It’s going to be like an indoor-outdoor staircase. So it has a screen that you can actually see through so it’s lit up at night," Fudge said.
Geoff Keddy and Associates is also designing the third residential tower in Dartmouth near Mic Mac Mall.
Keddy said Tuesday the Can-Euro Investments Ltd. development will be coming to community council in a couple of weeks.
The firm is also working on the 30-hectare Skipper Hill Estates & Marina development in the Chester area.
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