[Dartmouth] Moffats Pharmacy (190 Portland) | 26 m | 9 & 7 FL | U/C

[LikesBikes]

I wish this was the generic design across the HRM. The podium is quite nice in person and the building fits well onto the street - little setback, no obvious surface parking, mixed use, and providing some good density.

[Drybrain]

I have to agree, it's a little bland compared to the renderings (those featureless architectural panels, ach) but it's not terrible as a baseline. The main complaint I have with the finished product, compared to the rendering below, is the lack of storefronts. The original proposal included three small storefront units; this includes only one. It feels less permeable to the street and less urban overall. I'm sure there was a reason for the change, but it's an unfortunate design downgrade).

It also lacks a few of the details from the renderings, like the pop of yellow on the undersides of the balconies, though I suppose that could be among a few finishing touches yet to include.

[OldDartmouthMark]

I'm not sure I understand. If the new street-level section is going to house Moffatt's Pharmacy, then they will need all of that frontage for the Pharmacy, and more depth, if you compare to the footprint of the existing pharmacy building. The 3 separate storefronts/entrances seem like they must have included 'faux' entrances, or perhaps just an oversight by the architect (?).

I don't mind it. As mentioned above, a few more details in the masonry and main building would have been nice, but it's not horrible. And... wait for it... density.

[someone123]

The brickwork is pretty nice and it'll probably look a bit nicer when it's got its commercial tenant and there isn't a van parked on a pile of uncleared snow out front.

It looks nice but one critique is that the street frontage is timid for this development overall. They go for a small town or neighbourhood shop front height of 2-3 floors but then there are setbacks, driveways, and garage doors so the streetwall ends up being somewhat less than what would have been built on Portland Street 100 years ago.

[JET]

I thought that would move the pharmacy to the first building?

[Dmajackson]

Phase two is now submitted for approval. It's listed as 9 floors - $28M bringing the total unit count to 133 for this project.

[Dmajackson]

The updated rendering is on Zzap's Website.

The corner treatment looks interesting and might turn out great.

[Dmajackson]

Barriers are going up for Phase II;


HalifaxDevelopments.ca (Photo by David Jackson)

[OldDartmouthMark]

Not doubling the height of these seems like a wasted opportunity.

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Not doubling the height of these seems like a wasted opportunity.

Agreed, And the second building has actually had storeys removed since the last iteration.

[Dartguard]

I drove by the site yesterday just in time to see the excavator finish off the Old Drugstore. This project is well and truly underway.

[OldDartmouthMark]

A note to the mods: the thread title needs to be spell checked. Moffatt's has two "t"s at the end (and an apostrophe between the last t and the s). Thanks!