Halifax council OK's Hollis Street development

Halifax Regional Council has approved a new development for the corner of Hollis and Morris streets.

Dexel Developments Ltd. plans to build a 10-storey building, called Victoria Suites, to replace a shabby looking 19th-century apartment building witha distinctive wraparound veranda.

Heritage advocates are worried that important historical buildings will be lost when the $15-million mixed commercial and residential development goes ahead.

But Alex Bryant told council she believes the new development will rejuvenate the neighbourhood.

"At the moment, that block can quite easily be seen as a bit of an urban blight," she said.

But historian Elizabeth Pacey asked council to reject the project because Charles Morris, Halifaxs first surveyor general, once ran a business in a smaller building on the property.

"No historic city should tear down a building which is associated with an important founding father," she said.

Morris came to Halifax from Boston in 1749 the year the city was founded and helped lay out the city. He was surveyor general of lands for Nova Scotia for 32 years.

Developer Louis Lawen assured council he would pay homage to the local history.

"Id like to put some form of public art to probably dedicate to Charles Morris," he said.

That impressed most councillors, including those concerned about the look of the building.They voted in favour of the development.

Lawen promised to begin construction before the end of the year.