[Dartmouth] The Gate (10 Edward) | 94 m | 32 fl | U/C

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by JET

We put in a 311 and police report.

I’m curious if this resulted in action to fix the issue. Have you been around the site since your call?

[Dmajackson]

A variance request has been submitted for this development.

VAR-2026-01575

"Vary s.115(3)(b) of the Regional Centre Land Use By-law to reduce the side yard setback for portions of the building above the streetwall from 12.5 metres to 6.4 metres on level 4 and 5."

[JET]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

I’m curious if this resulted in action to fix the issue. Have you been around the site since your call?

On the weekends it seems more secure, but in the gutter going down to queens square was a dried River of concrete, probably from washing out the trucks. What a mess!

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by JET

On the weekends it seems more secure, but in the gutter going down to queens square was a dried River of concrete, probably from washing out the trucks. What a mess!

Doesn't sound great, but at least people aren't being taken out by construction fencing gates!

Warning: Opinionated rant below.
I'm glad this and The Post are being built, as maybe something in Dartmouth will finally help to overwhelm some of the visual ugliness that is Queen Square. That building took out an entire block and very much damaged a neighbourhood that was once a vibrant place to live (my Grandmother lived on Edward from just after the Halifax Explosion until she had to move in the 1970s to make way for the parking garage attached to that building - it broke her heart and she was never quite the same afterwards). That area of town was its own little community but only the most intuitive would probably realize that now. The addition of new residents should tip things back in a positive direction moving forward. Hopefully the units will be affordable to most.

I really have some hope that current and future developments in the area will turn out to be fairly nice buildings, and bring that area out of the doldrums it has been in since that ugly blockbusting box was built.

[Keith P.]

I never understood Queens Square. Ugly and low-rent on the outside with little architectural merit, largely pedestrian-unfriendly on the exterior spaces, impossible to park nearby if you have business there, and not at all welcoming. I think it is late-‘70s/early ‘80s vintage and it seems to incorporate all the worst aspects of office building design of that period.

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

That building took out an entire block and very much damaged a neighbourhood that was once a vibrant place to live (my Grandmother lived on Edward from just after the Halifax Explosion until she had to move in the 1970s to make way for the parking garage attached to that building - it broke her heart and she was never quite the same afterwards).

And let us not forget Eldridge Lloy's Empire Store. What a wondrous emporium it was!

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

And let us not forget Eldridge Lloy's Empire Store. What a wondrous emporium it was!

Was that the store on the northwest corner of Edward and Ochterloney?

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Was that the store on the northwest corner of Edward and Ochterloney?

Yes, exactly.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

Yes, exactly.

Thanks! I do remember it, then! And yes, it was a delight! 🙂

[kzt79]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I never understood Queens Square. Ugly and low-rent on the outside with little architectural merit, largely pedestrian-unfriendly on the exterior spaces, impossible to park nearby if you have business there, and not at all welcoming. I think it is late-‘70s/early ‘80s vintage and it seems to incorporate all the worst aspects of office building design of that period.

The owners seem pretty impressed

https://www.novacorpproperties.com/listing/queen-square

"Queen Square is one of the most iconic buildings in Dartmouth as it has long dominated the city’s skyline. The building provides impressive views of the Harbour and surrounding urban areas all while located in the heart of downtown Dartmouth. Gentrification, new construction, great cafes, shops, services, amenities, transit and more are making downtown Dartmouth the best place to work, eat and play.

Queen Square has been transformed with a new look, a great vibe, and a more professional operation. Tenants enjoy commanding harbour views at affordable rents with attractive lease packages offered, all in a superb office environment."

[someone123]

Originally Posted by kzt79

Queen Square has been transformed with a new look, a great vibe, and a more professional operation. Tenants enjoy commanding harbour views at affordable rents with attractive lease packages offered, all in a superb office environment."

The new look is actually even blander than the old look. I am happy the "grey everywhere" followed by "white and black" trend is ending.

It's a utilitarian office block, which is fine, but it could be made friendlier. It seems a bit odd to mix a somewhat tall office tower with a very short parking structure, and to put the parking along a long street frontage.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

It seems a bit odd to mix a somewhat tall office tower with a very short parking structure, and to put the parking along a long street frontage.

Not everything in the 1970s was great!

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by kzt79

The owners seem pretty impressed

https://www.novacorpproperties.com/listing/queen-square

"Queen Square is one of the most iconic buildings in Dartmouth as it has long dominated the city’s skyline. The building provides impressive views of the Harbour and surrounding urban areas all while located in the heart of downtown Dartmouth. Gentrification, new construction, great cafes, shops, services, amenities, transit and more are making downtown Dartmouth the best place to work, eat and play.

Queen Square has been transformed with a new look, a great vibe, and a more professional operation. Tenants enjoy commanding harbour views at affordable rents with attractive lease packages offered, all in a superb office environment."

Doesn't surprise me from NovaCorp... they are a delusional outfit. Probably the worst property 'managers' in the city.

[JET]

I was reading that the first St. Peter’s church in Dartmouth was built on this site in 1829.

[Colin May]

and....just 5 minute walk from Queen's Square you can see drug addicts getting a fix in Dartmouth Common and make sure you avoid the discarded needles.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by JET

I was reading that the first St. Peter’s church in Dartmouth was built on this site in 1829.

During WWII the site was used for military drills.

FWIW, just up the street on Ochterloney was St. Peter’s Church hall. IIRC it was torn down sometime in the 1980s?

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Colin May

and....just 5 minute walk from Queen's Square you can see drug addicts getting a fix in Dartmouth Common and make sure you avoid the discarded needles.

A few weeks ago I took a walk along Park Ave. and noticed what appeared to be a group of rough-looking people in the main area of the park inside the gate that gave me the impression that they were up to this type of activity. I was surprised, actually, as I thought that it was on the wane. I guess things haven’t really improved, it’s just not talked about in the media much lately.

The way they looked at me as I was passing made me decide to change my return route to Ochterloney, which felt like a better place to be, TBH.

It’s a shame, as when I lived in that area many years ago, the park was a peaceful place where you could go to take a break from life’s woes. Now it’s a place to witness how low we can get when we are living without hope or feeling like we are no longer a contributing part of society. Sad, really.

[Colin May]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

A few weeks ago I took a walk along Park Ave. and noticed what appeared to be a group of rough-looking people in the main area of the park inside the gate that gave me the impression that they were up to this type of activity. I was surprised, actually, as I thought that it was on the wane. I guess things haven’t really improved, it’s just not talked about in the media much lately.

The way they looked at me as I was passing made me decide to change my return route to Ochterloney, which felt like a better place to be, TBH.

It’s a shame, as when I lived in that area many years ago, the park was a peaceful place where you could go to take a break from life’s woes. Now it’s a place to witness how low we can get when we are living without hope or feeling like we are no longer a contributing part of society. Sad, really.

I walk in the Common twice a day....the greatest threat to pedestrians of any age are cyclists and scooter users who now ride on every pathway and ignore the 8 signs on park gates and rails showing the designated multi-use pathway. True to form the councillor believes that because there are no signs indicating that most pathways are not for cyclists that translates into permission to use any and all pathways. Using his 'logic' it would be reasonable to conclude that assault, theft and murder is allowed anywhere in HRM because there are no signs indicating that such actions are not allowed.
Apparently he has not noticed the incorrect spelling on one prominent sign.