Halifax’s downtown population boom continues

According to Statistics Canada, downtown Halifax's population grew by 26 percent from 2016-2021 making it the fastest growing downtown in the country. With the current state of construction, it may be on track to retain that title when the next Census of Population results are released in 2026.

Here are all of the housing projects proposed, approved or under construction in the downtown district.

Cunard

This Southwest Properties project will tower over tourists walking the waterfront. Its 16 floors will provide hundreds of units for people wanting to be as close to the ocean breeze and downtown at the same time.

Press Block

This vacant and decaying building behind the provincial legislature is being gutted, but its facade remains for decoration. Although it's as downtown as it gets, the nine-storey Dexel project is about as tall as possible with the current height limits.

1557 Hollis

Nobody knows if this Canada Lands project will be completed by 2026. After years of proposed designs, progress remains slow. You'll find two massive empty lots just waiting for hundreds of housing units to fill them at the heart of downtown, but there's still plenty of paperwork to be done.

Skye Halifax

The second of the two huge empty lots downtown is the site of a project that is approved but has been slow to begin construction. The United Gulf development will see two 20+ storey towers overhead. A previous proposal for the site was for two 48-storey towers, which would have been made them the tallest buildings in Atlantic Canada. That plan far exceeded what was allowed by HRM by Design and eventually ended up being rejected by council.

1649 Bedford Row

Tucked away on a shaded street downtown, the proposed Root Architecture project is looking to squeeze its way in with a thin but relatively tall building at 12 storeys. 

The Governor

Killam Properties is constructing a low-rise apartment complex behind their recently completed high-rise project, “The Alexander.” Although it will be seven floors, it will only have 13 units, showing a quality strategy over quantity. Haligonians may have preferred the quantity approach with the state of housing in the city.

The Mills

A Westwood Development project that began demolishing before most people realized it was even proposed, it will bring 180 units to the area filled by new developments such as The Doyle, Margaretta, Mary Ann, Brentwood, Curve, etc. Anyone who hasn't visited Spring Garden in the past five years will be in for quite a shock when they return.

Brenton Suites

It was this WM Fares project whose crane fell during Hurricane Dorian. Its 170 units will bring many more people to the already hustling and bustling Spring Garden area.

The Margaretta

The Banc Group is finishing construction on the sequel to the Mary Ann next door. Its 221 units will occupy tenants who only have to walk across the street to reach NSLC Cannabis.

5515 Cogswell

Principal Developments is constructing this building with 174 residential units at the start of one of Halifax's most historic streets, Gottingen St. This project is yet another example of the changing face of that part of town.

The Trinity

Jono Developments wasn't content to just build a 21-floor apartment complex behind Staples, so they also decided to add a hotel to the project as well. Day by day, the concrete grows higher.

Westhill on Duke

Crombie REIT hopes to construct a 280 residential unit building attached to the Scotia Square complex. This building might be the first new apartment complex in decades with access to the downtown Halifax link system. A wise choice for anyone whose pet peeve is walking outdoors during winter.