If I'm not mistaken this article is the first one I've seen that identifies the planned heights, 14 and 22 stories. Hopefully the renderings are available soon.
Source:
The Chronicle Herald
Highrises planned in Starr area
By CHRIS LAMBIE Business Editor
Sat. Feb 13 - 4:54 AM
A three-building residential development proposed for downtown Dartmouth that’s estimated to cost as much as $60 million is about to get a public airing.
Darrell Dixon’s plan includes building a seven-storey complex on Ochterloney Street, beside the former Greenvale School, which Dexel Developments is turning into a complex of 36 loft-style apartments.
Dixon, who didn’t return calls Friday, also wants to build a 14-storey tower on the corner of Queen and Pine streets, and a 22-storey building on a vacant lot behind the former school off the Pine Street Extension.
"We want to get as many people living downtown as we can," said Coun. Gloria McCluskey (Dartmouth Centre).
A public information meeting on the project is slated for 7 p.m. Monday at Dartmouth High School.
Sobeys Land Holdings Ltd. owns the chunks of property where Dixon plans to erect the seven-storey and 22-storey buildings.
"They were going to put a grocery store there," McCluskey said. "They only did it because they thought that Atlantic Superstore was going to buy part of the Starr Manufacturing property. And, of course, (the city is) not selling the Starr property, so Sobeys dropped it."
A numbered Nova Scotia company headed by Dixon owns the other nearby property where he wants to build.
"This developer has the Sobeys land under agreement, so he has a purchase-and-sale agreement with them," said Mitch Dickey, a city planner.
Under the current zoning, Dixon could now construct a 24-unit building on each of the four lots. The buildings could be as tall as 21 metres.
But Dixon, a construction manager who does work for Shannex, wants to create about 300 units, Dickey said.
The developer hasn’t told the planner whether they’ll be apartments or condominiums. "That’s something he’ll let the market decide," Dickey said.
Dixon is asking the city for an amendment to the municipal planning strategy that would allow the three buildings he’s proposed.
"What guides us on that is community feedback," Dickey said.
A lot of low-rise buildings have gone up in downtown Dartmouth over the past decade, he said.
"Generally the feedback is not good on how they look or what their quality is like," Dickey said.
Locals who have already commented on Dixon’s plan want to make sure the project is attractive and of good quality, he said.
"He’s proposing very modern buildings. The renderings are attractive," Dickey said.
"He’s proposing a more traditional design for the Ochterloney Street building — something that would complement Greenvale School with a brick finish on it. And then the other two buildings would be more modern and contemporary."
The downtown plan calls for pedestrian-friendly streets. It aims to ensure new development brings people off the sidewalk right into a business, Dickey said.
The plan wants to promote "lively streetscapes . . . with a variety of architecture," he said.
"At the sidewalk level, buildings should really not exceed three storeys in height. They would have to step back for any level above the third floor, and that’s what (Dixon’s) showing for this proposal."
The city will likely require him to have commercial space in the largest building, which abuts the former Starr Manufacturing site.
Besides the former skate factory, levelled a decade ago, the site also borders the Shubenacadie Canal.
As part of his proposal, Dixon is offering to fund improvements to the public space called the Canal Greenway, which runs down Prince Albert Road from Sullivans Pond to Halifax Harbour.
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