W.M. Fares Group hopes to build 9-storey building near library

Staff with the Halifax Regional Municipalityare recommending the approval of a proposed new building on the corner of Dresden Row and Clyde Street in the city's downtown.

W.M. Fares Group wants to construct a nine-storey building called The Margaretta.

It would be next to a project already under construction dubbedThe Mary Ann, which is along Queen Street across from the new Halifax Central Library.

The names honour the daughters of the family that created the Schmidtville neighbourhood where the buildings are located.

Schmidtville was one of Halifax's first suburbs. Elizabeth Pedley-Schmidt inherited the land from her father and subdivided it into lots. Those lots were bought by developers who constructed Victorian andGeorgian-style homes, many of which stand to this day.

The Margaretta, the outside of which would mostly be lightly tinted glass,has echoes of the HalifaxCentral Library's design.

The Margaretta proposal includes 147 residential units, a courtyard at street level for public use and commercial space on the ground floor.

The property is currently a paid parking lot. But the developer has agreed to create three floors of underground parking with 260 spaces for both tenants and the public.

The design review committee will consider the application on Dec 10.