SilverBirch Hotels and Resorts want to add two floors of hotel rooms to their Hilton project on Brunswick Street – the now demolished site of the Citadel Hotel.
The request was being considered by the design review committee on Thursday night (Aug. 9).
Trevor Morgan, regional vice president of SilverBirch, said the shipbuilding contract and the new convention centre made them rethink their project.
“Those two things combined with our optimism of the market, led us to believe additional inventory would be advantageous to us,” he said. “It’s really around our optimism of the Halifax market, which is a very healthy one.”
Originally, the two-tower hotel project was 13 storeys sitting on a two-storey base, for a total of 15. SilverBirch is asking for two floors to be added into the middle, increasing the number of hotel rooms from 278 to 316.
Morgan said the project would still remain in the $60-$65 million price range and will be completed in April 2014.
HRM staff has recommended approval of the additional two floors.
“This does not seem to be a substantial change from the original design: it’s still the same usage, same materials, and the same architectural design,” said Shaune MacKinlay, HRM spokeswoman.
The added two floors also has no impact on the viewplane or Citadel ramparts provisions, and falls below the height limits.
The design review committee was also scheduled to hear a presentation from the W.M. Fares Group for their proposal for the Marry Ann site at 1453 Queen St. – close to the new library.
It’s a nine-storey mixed use building with commercial tenants on the main floor and residential above. It also proposes three storeys of underground parking. This proposal is in the early stages and after the presentation HRM staff will prepare a report with recommendations.
Metro Halifax
