Possible respite for Victorian hotel

Dexel Developments offers Nova Scotia Heritage Trust a chance to move the classic buildings at Morris and Hollis.

by Neal Ozano

Dexel Developments owner Louis Lawen has offered a respite for at least one of the three historic buildings at the corner of Hollis and Morris streets. The buildings are slated for demolition. Lawen says he's offered to contribute the value of the demolition of the buildings (about $30,000) to moving the buildings---if the Nova Scotia Heritage Trust can find "a home for the homes."

Lawen made the offer a few weeks ago after being approached by Phil Pacey of the Nova Scotia Heritage Trust.

"We'd like to take that whole cluster of buildings," says Peter Delefes, president of Heritage Trust. He says the buildings can't be moved very far, and that most of the land nearby is owned by Nova Scotia Power. "We're trying to deal with [NSP], and see if they'd be willing to provide any space.

Lawen says the distinctive Victorian Hotel on the corner and, next door, the home of Charles Morris, who designed the layout of Halifax and several other Nova Scotia cities, are probably in no condition to be moved. But Morris's offices on Morris Street, housed in a building separate from the hotel and home, could be moved again---they were originally moved in the early 1900s to make room for the construction of the hotel.

Last Friday, November 6, was the unofficial deadline, but Lawen says that delays in having power lines moved underground near the hotel building are postponing construction, and therefore demolition of the buildings. As well, he says Dexel is still waiting for construction drawings and hasn't hired a contractor. He estimates that cranes will be up by February and that work on the power lines could happen as soon as three weeks. But he's willing to work with the Heritage Trust if an opportunity is presented. "If they said 'Look, we've found a home, but we need some time to move it,' I wouldn't tell him 'Sorry, you're out of time.'

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@ no u - are you kidding me? "Questionable neighborhood values" in the South End? Last I checked, property in the South End is some of the most expensive and sought after, which is exactly why this building is in jeopardy. Have you ever been inside this building to declare it "nearly uninhabitable"? I'm sure the people who live there would be delighted to know they're not considered "actual residents". Unless the downtown core shifts and the universities shut down, the South End is in no danger of a population decline. I'm sorry, but you're going to have to come up with some better arguments for demolishing the city's historic buildings than you've provided so far.

Posted by me0w on November 18, 2009 at 4:45 PM | Report this comment

@ alpal - The questionable neighborhood values added by having an old rundown shack on a corner are far outweighed by a large density residential structure. The only way that we will see any sort of value in this community is if there are actually residents living there, and keeping rundown, nearly uninhabitable structures around will just lead to a smaller and smaller South End population.

Posted by no u on November 17, 2009 at 1:51 PM | Report this comment

Need many times the $30,000 offered by Dexel to move any of the 3 buildings.

Posted by Joeblow on November 15, 2009 at 4:52 PM | Report this comment

Thank-you, Dexel!

Posted by lilac on November 15, 2009 at 10:05 AM | Report this comment

The building at Hollis and Morris,
is more than a 'pretty' building,
and its more than an emblem for historians:
this building, and its' eminent destruction/move
speaks to Halifax's development priorities:

the Heritage trust is often quick, and stubborn about
holding on to such structures. In this case however,
for a building that was 'home' for Halifax's lower class for decades,
has been sold without a word.

Architecturally, it stands clad with wrap-around-porches
facing Hollis and Morris street - silently demonstrating
that its residents are/were engaged with
what was happening on the street below.

The proposed building that will soon inhabit the
site, is an under-achieved, bland structure,
set to accommodate 80 units
whose only aim is to increase density - not
to engage neighborhood history or values.

The discussion of whether or not this structure can be moved,
let alone saved,
must also recognize the transition that
it represents about Halifax's neighborhoods,
and the
the priorities of its' developers.

Posted by alpal on November 15, 2009 at 9:52 AM | Report this comment

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