Dennis Building Development Agreement Signed

Government announced an agreement with Dexel Developments today, April 26, to develop the Truscan site. The site includes the Dennis Building, Hansard Building and an adjacent parking lot on Granville Street in Halifax.

Dexel was the successful proponent among five pre-qualified proponents to lease the site.

“This ensures we can protect the integrity of this site in a historic area adjacent to Province House and the Grand Parade,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Lloyd Hines.

“We are excited to be working with the province and Halifax Regional Municipality on this project,” said Louie Lawen, president and CEO of Lawen Group, the parent company of Dexel. “We are eager to get started on the next steps to make this project come to fruition.”

Dexel has proposed a nine-storey, mixed-use residential and retail project.

The province has set restrictions regarding the site including:

• maintain the granite façade of the Dennis Building and façade of the Hansard Building
• design approval from the province relating to the front on Granville Street of the new development
• no commercial or retail space on Granville Street
• no balconies facing Granville Street

Dexel must have development approval from Halifax Regional Municipality within 18 months and complete the project within 42 months of that approval for the agreement to remain valid.