St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Purcells Cove Road on Thursday. Photo by Ryan Taplin /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentHoly places and housing are mixing in interesting ways these days in Halifax.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentTwo different developers in Halifax are proposing similar ideas in different neighbourhoods: restoring historic churches and building residential towers behind them.Article contentArticle content A design image that shows the proposed development for St. John the Baptist Catholic Church property on Purcells Cove Road in Halifax. Photo by FBM Architecture Ltd.Article content18 storeys and a community spaceArticle contentDenise Szuler used to go to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Purcells Cove Road with her family years ago. When it closed down in 2021 and was sold a year later to the Anchor Group Limited, she was left wondering what would become of the unique building with its Spanish Mission-style parapet.Article contentArticle contentWhen she was walking by recently, she noticed a development sign that took her by surprise. The developer is planning to restore the 96-year-old church and build an 18-storey plus penthouse tower behind it that will have 163 apartment suites in a combination of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units. Article content“When I saw that, I was just shocked,” she said.Article content St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Purcells Cove Road on Thursday. Photo by Ryan Taplin /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentShe started asking questions on a neighbourhood Facebook group, and she said several people who live nearby plan to meet “to see what we can do because it’s too high, it’s too tall.”Article contentShe said she’s particularly concerned about the development’s impact on traffic as well as the water and wastewater systems.Article content“We can’t handle it,” she said.Article content A design image that shows the proposed development for St. John the Baptist Catholic Church property on Purcells Cove Road in Halifax. Photo by FBM Architecture Ltd.Article contentSt. John the Baptist Catholic ChurchArticle contentIt’s easy to see why this church passed the test for municipal heritage status.Article contentThe building replaced a simpler structure that served as a mission church and then a powder magazine during the First World War. That same building was set up as an emergency hospital during the Second World War in the event of air raids on Canadian soil. Article contentArticle content This building, on the site before St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Purcells Cove Road, was built in 1929. It was used as a powder magazine during the First World War. Photo by HRMArticle contentThe current structure opened in 1929, and a rear extension was added in 1948. It was open just shy of a century before closing in September 2021 because of declining attendance, financial pressures and a lack of available priests.Article contentAnchor bought it and applied, and was approved, for municipal heritage status in 2022.Article contentDevelopment detailsArticle contentA heritage development agreement application was sent to the municipality dated June 25, submitted by Halifax-based FBM Architecture Ltd. on behalf of Anchor.Article contentThey detail their plans to restore the church, move it over on the property and restore it for use as a community space.Article content The interior of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Purcells Cove Road in Halifax. Photo by FBM Architecture Ltd.Article content“This design proposal re-imagines the heritage building as a shared community amenity, complemented by a new multi-unit residential development that ensures the project’s economic viability,” the architects wrote.
Restored Halifax churches under tall towers: Two heritage development agreements pitched
