YMCA Seeks City Hall OK
The YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth is headed to city hall with a proposed $22-million redevelopment at South Park and Sackville streets, president and CEO Bette Watson-Borg said Friday.
YMCA seeks city hall OK for turfed plan
November 18, 2011 - 6:42pm By BILL POWER Business Reporter
The YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth is headed to city hall with a proposed $22-million redevelopment at South Park and Sackville streets, president and CEO Bette Watson-Borg said Friday.
It’s headed there even though an advisory committee rejected the plan last week.
“The proposal represents the culmination of about four years of community consultations,” Watson-Borg said of the redevelopment the YMCA is pursuing for downtown Halifax in partnership with CBC/Radio Canada.
“We believe this is an opportunity to bring a much-needed health and wellness centre to the community.”
The CBC property, located at the intersection, will be rolled into the redevelopment of the site if required height restriction amendments to the municipal planning strategy win approval at city hall.
Watson-Borg said the economics of the undertaking require raising the height restriction to 46 metres from the current 23 metres. Relaxing the height restriction would allow the proponents to build a residential complex that would be about 15 storeys high on one portion of the property.
“The taller portion (of the complex) is setback significantly from the street,” said Watson-Borg.
A design review committee, acting as an advisory board to Halifax regional council, rejected a proposal to amend the city’s municipal plan to allow taller buildings in the area.
Concerns were raised at that session about keeping area development in context with the both the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site and the Halifax Public Gardens.
However, the committee’s decision is non-binding and regional council can still approve the requested change to the building height restriction regulation.
“We understand council can approve a development in this context if it is in the best interests of the community and we believe this is such a situation,” said Watson-Borg.
“We want to bring a full-service health and fitness facility to the community and by adding additional development to the site, we can keep access costs reasonable at the new Y facility,” she said.
Richard Harvey, a senior planner with the city, said a report on the design committee’s rejection of proposed changes to height restrictions at South Park and Sackville streets will likely be forwarded to city hall within weeks.
He said council will schedule a formal public hearing before voting on amendments to height restrictions at South Park and Sackville streets, if council decides to follow that route.
The YMCA, which Watson-Borg said has about 2,000 members at its South Park facility, wants to build a 70,000-square-foot complex with an aquatic complex, indoor running track, childcare, outdoor garden and gym and fitness area.
There is also 5,700 square feet of retail and office space along South Park Street, 300 parking spaces and a passageway between South Park and Annandale streets.
Another 330,000 square feet of residential space would generate an estimated $9 million and $10 million from a developer, which Watson-Borg said would help the non-profit organization cover the cost of the health and wellness centre.
CBC/Radio Canada has announced plans to relocate from the intersection to the CBC building on Bell Road that is getting a multimillion-dollar makeover.
(bpower@herald.ca)