PLANAPP 2024-01230 – 5492 INGLIS ST, HALIFAX

Request

Request
Application by Fathom Studio on behalf of a property owner, requesting to enter into a heritage development agreement on lands at 5492 Inglis Street, Halifax (PID 00065201), also known as Alexander Stephen House, to permit a 31-unit, 6-storey, mixed-use development, including the rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of the historic building and construction of a new rear-addition.

Background
This development agreement is being sought in accordance with Policy CHR-7 of the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy (SMPS), which permits Council to consider a development agreement on any lot containing a registered heritage building to encourage the conservation and adaptive re-use of registered heritage buildings.

Heritage Significance
5492 Inglis Street, Halifax, also known as Alexander Stephen House, was registered as a municipal heritage property in 2021. The property contains a three-storey wooden building which was constructed c.1891. The architect and builder are unknown. It is a representative example of the Second Empire architectural style. The house has historical connections to Alexander Stephen Jr. of A. Stephen & Son, a furniture manufacturer. He later became president of the company, which was renamed to the Nova Scotia Furnishing Co. Alexander Stephen Jr. served as Alderman for Ward 3 and later Mayor of Halifax. The building displays generally good heritage integrity.

Proposal

New Construction

The applicant is proposing the removal of the existing non-original rear addition and the construction of a new multi-residential rear addition. This new additional will replace the existing non-original rear addition. The new addition is proposed to be 6 storeys tall and to contain 22 of the 31 total units. The remaining 9 units and 850sqft of ground-floor commercial space are enabled through internal conversion of the existing registered heritage building. No parking is proposed due to the project’s modest size and central location. One of the 31 units is proposed to be a barrier-free accessible unit. A sixth-floor outdoor amenity space, basement indoor amenity space, and indoor bicycle room for 16 bicycles is proposed for the convenience of residents.

Church Rehabilitation

A key element of the proposal is the retention, rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of the entire original structure of the registered heritage building (the house). A non-original rear addition to the house will be removed. The original house structure is proposed to be rehabilitated in accordance with the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places to enhance its longevity and enable its adaptive-reuse as residential units and ground-floor commercial space. An associated application for Substantial Alterations to the registered heritage property will be applied for and reviewed by Regional Council concurrently with this Heritage Development Agreement application.

Development Agreement Scope

If approved, the development agreement would allow the property owner to construct a 6-storey, mixed-use development on the registered heritage property. The development agreement would also require the property owner to rehabilitate the registered heritage building at 5492 Inglis Street, Halifax in accordance with the associated Substantial Alterations application. The Development Agreement will also require the property owner to follow specific building control parameters for the development, which will include such controls as height, mass, architectural design, lot coverage, and others.

Process

Heritage Development agreements are discretionary applications, meaning that they require the approval of Community Council to proceed. Details of the proposal have been published to the municipal website, and a sign will be posted on-site.

In the coming months, public feedback will be solicited via either a fact-sheet mailout or public information meeting, and residents within an 80-metre radius of the site will be notified by mail of the opportunity to provide feedback. Feedback may also be provided to HRM staff by anyone at any time via the contact details provided below.

After public engagement has been completed, and pending approval of the associated application for Substantial Alterations to a registered heritage property, HRM staff will negotiate a development agreement with the applicant and prepare a staff report and recommendation for review by the Heritage Advisory Committee and decision by Halifax and West Community Council. Prior to Community Council decision, a Public Hearing shall be held, and advert

Status

This application is in the pre-engagement stage. Once it is deemed ready to proceed to public engagement, residents within an 80-metre radius of the site will be notified by mail of the public engagement process and given an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed development.

Documents Submitted for Evaluation

The applicant has submitted plans and studies required by HRM staff to properly evaluate the application. The documents are also available for review at the HRM Planning and Development office in Downtown Halifax (5251 Duke St, 3^rd Floor).

A-Design Rationale
B-Site Plan Elevations Floor Plans Renders
C-Traffic Impact Statement
D-Heritage Impact Statement
E-Servicing Schematic
F-Preliminary Landscape Plan
G-Staff Report Heritage Registration 2021