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Emscote Ltd. proposes residential project
March 19, 2012 BY REMO ZACCAGNA BUSINESS REPORTER
A big residential project bordering Bedford could be completed by next year if Chebucto community council gives the go ahead April 2.
Emscote Ltd., headed by developer Ralph Medjuck, is proposing to build 113 single-family homes, 54 townhouses and three multiple-unit buildings totalling 213 apartments on a 33-hectare site immediately north of Royale Hemlocks subdivision, between Bedford Highway and Highway 102.
Chebucto council will hold a public hearing on the proposal April 2 and subsequently vote on it. If approved, work should begin “as soon as we possibly can get permits to get into the ground,” Kathleen O’Donovan, director of development with Emscote, said in a phone interview Monday.
“I want construction to start (this) spring or summer at the latest. We want land available to turn over to the builders by fall ..... so that they can start (housing) construction late this year so they can have homes ready for the public for the spring
market.”
The land is next to an area owned by Clayton Developments Ltd. in Bedford South and Cresco Developments Ltd. south of that.
“Right now, currently, there’s not a lot of land in Halifax available,” O’Donovan said.
The project encompasses a 27.5-hectare parcel at the end of Transom Drive, Starboard Drive, Cutter Drive, Bosun Run and
Fleetview Drive. Another 5.6 hectares will be developed between Jacob Lane and Bedford Highway.
The proposal is also near an $86-million residential project, just off Larry Uteck Boulevard and Jacob Lane, that is being
developed by Emscote Ltd. and Universal Properties.
O’Donovan said the project is the “missing link” for the Halifax Regional Municipality master plan for development in Bedford South-Wentworth Estates. “This will connect the former Royale Hemlocks ..... and it will connect it with Bedford South.” It would be built in three phases, with the first phase being 27 single-family homes and 54 townhouses, 24 of which will be condominiums.
The area, close to amenities, schools and green spaces, is the ideal location for a mixed-density project of this magnitude, O’Donovan said.
“Mixed-density allows people to move up in size from an apartment or a condominium to a townhouse or to a small singlefamily or an executive single-family as their lifestyle changes. But it also allows them to move down as their lifestyle changes.”
Additionally, the lots would be bigger than the average 4,000-square-foot lot. O’Donovan said each lot would average from 5,000 to 6,500 square feet.
“We’re going to do our best to maintain as many trees as we can behind the houses so that you have sort of a suburban feel in a city environment.”
(rzaccagna@herald.ca) By REMO ZACCAGNA Business Reporter
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