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How the Cogswell District Project Will Change Halifax
February 22, 2022 3 Minute Read
Update (15 November 2024): Halifax’s Cogswell District Project, the city’s largest urban renewal development, is underway and slated for December 2025. It is expected to come in under budget at $113 million, compared to previous estimates for $122 million. More than two thirds of the project have now been completed, including mass excavation, the installation of underground utilities and some grading and curb work.
A stroll through the scenic streets of downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, will soon look a lot different. Construction is slated to begin on the Cogswell District Project – the largest city-building project in Halifax’s 180-year history.
The project will see the Cogswell Interchange demolished, and a new community spring forth in its place. The aptly named Cogswell District will connect Halifax’s downtown core with the north end and the waterfront, creating a seamless flow between communities previously divided by the interchange.
Sixteen acres of existing road infrastructure will be converted into a new mixed-use neighbourhood, and the entrance to downtown will be extended northward, improving vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
The Cogswell District will include development blocks capable of supporting new residential and commercial spaces for 2,500 people. Highlights of the pedestrian-friendly plan include Poplar Street Park, Barrington Bikeway, Barrington Street Transit Plaza, and the Granville Square and Ordinance Plaza.
With traffic redirected to their door and thousands of new residents moving in, waterfront and downtown businesses are set to boom.
Purdy’s Wins Big
One major beneficiary of the Cogswell District Project will be Purdy’s Wharf. Situated alongside the development, the recently renovated complex can expect a flurry of new tenants as Nova Scotia's capital reconfigures around the new neighbourhood and companies look to capitalize on the strategic location.
“Purdy’s stands to reap the most rewards from the Cogswell District project, as it will enhance traffic flow and aesthetics in the area and shift downtown core activity towards Purdy’s,” says CBRE’s Associate Vice President Mat Houston. “It will help to add further momentum to Purdy’s resurgence.”
The refurbished Purdy’s includes modernized lobbies, a tenant lounge, a food hall, and a restaurant overlooking the harbour. The complex houses a fitness centre, daycare centre, and ample green space.
Holder of Atlantic Canada’s first LEED EB Gold Certification, Purdy’s Wharf uses 34% less energy than the average commercial building. Its seven-story covered parkade accounts for a hefty slice of all downtown parking inventory.
Purdy’s furthers its position as a prime business destination thanks to its connection to the Downtown Halifax Link. The climate-controlled pedway system connects all three Purdy’s buildings to hotels, restaurants, shops, and offices throughout the downtown core.
The buildings’ benefits aren’t going unnoticed. In just the last six months, Adaptiiv Medical Technologies, a homegrown software company, leased 8,870 sq. ft. of space, and financial advisory firm Selectpath snapped up 2,000 sq. ft.
Dexter Construction, the company at the helm of the Cogswell District Project, recently completed a deal for 3,491 sq. ft. of space, too. With the allure of Purdy’s Wharf already becoming clear, businesses will have to act fast to get a spot in the iconic towers. By the time the Cogswell District is complete, it may already be too late.
“The secret is out and now is the time for tenants in the market to take advantage of the changes in and around Purdy’s,” says Houston.
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