Character-defining chimney lost in new Greenvale development

By Joanie Veitch - The Weekly News
Dartmouth has lost a piece of its history.
Dexel Development Ltd.'s decision to remove a "character-defining" brick chimney at the back of the former Greenvale School building will soon be looked at during Halifax regional council.
As a registered municipal heritage property, several "character defining" elements - including the brick chimney - were listed as features to be "retained or reconstructed" when the development agreement was drawn up in 2007.
During the summer, however, Dexel tore the chimney down early in the construction phase.
"I happened to be walking up to the building to see how things were progressing and saw that the chimney was being taken down," said HRM heritage planner Bill Plaskett.
City planners suggested a solution to the developer - build a reinforced brick-sheathed plywood box to replicate the chimney. But the HRM staff report noted that Dexel refused that suggestion.
While the developer has put in a request for several amendments that city staff are willing to support, "the issue with the chimney is the one thing we couldn't agree to," Plaskett said.
"From our perspective, it ultimately became a matter of principle. It was part of the development agreement, so it does have significance."
The staff report was first tabled at last month's heritage advisory committee meeting and then again at last week's Harbour East Community Council.
"The heritage advisory committee's decision was to concur with the staff recommendation on the matter," said Kurt Pyle, supervisor of planning applications for the city.
If council also ratifies the staff position, Dexel will have to either rebuild the chimney or see the matter go to the Development Services division for further action.
The $6 million development project, called the Lofts at Greenvale, will create 36 rental units in the historic school. Developer Louis Lawen reached an agreement in principle with HRM to develop the site back in 2003, but didn't take ownership of the property until late 2007, due to problems with an old sewer line that had to be worked out with the city.
Pyle noted the development has saved a historic building that was in danger of being lost.
"From that perspective it has been very positive," he said.
Dexel Developments did not return calls before press time.
jveitch@ns.sympatico.ca