By Joanie Veitch - The Weekly News
Asking Dexel Developments to rebuild a brick chimney demolished on the former Greenvale School building doesn't make sense, Dartmouth Centre Coun. Gloria McCluskey told her fellow councillors at regional council last week.
"I stood up and said 'this is ridiculous' and it is," said McCluskey. "That old chimney had to be taken down and to say that he should have to build a replacement … that's just silly."
Dexel knocked the chimney down this past summer, in the early stages of construction.
An HRM staff report and recommendation specified the chimney as a one of several "character defining" elements on the municipal heritage property in the 2007 Development Agreement, leading to the staff recommendation that the developer replace it.
At a heritage advisory committee meeting last month, members voted to support the HRM staff position by refusing approval of the chimney removal. Members also recommended that a replica of the chimney be built, suggesting a reinforced brick-sheathed plywood box to match the old design.
Councillors did not support that recommendation at regional council last week. The issue may be on the table yet again though, as it is one of three "substantive" amendments to the development agreement requested by Dexel Developments and substantive amendments require a public hearing.
The public hearing on the amendments is scheduled for the next Harbour East Community Council meeting on Nov. 12.
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.
jveitch@ns.sympatico.ca
Greenvale amending agreement
Although the Development Agreement set up in 2007 allows for the original brick exterior of the Greenvale School building to be covered with an Exterior Insulation Finish System, it outlines several other character defining elements that should be "retained or reconstructed", including:
1. Tall chimneys and wide arched windows trimmed with keystones
2. Overall form and proportions
3. Classic decorative trim
4. Building materials including brick, copper and slate
5. Hipped roof with copper gutter and detailed trim
6. Side entrances with classical porticos with Doric columns
7. Front entrance with central portico with Doric columns and a balustrade with large arched window above
8. Graduated levels following grade of property
9. Original trees.
Source: HRM website (halifax.ca/council/agendasc/ documents/ 091027ca1131.pdf)
