Hello all,
Here is what I know so far about the Alehouse situation:
The following report came to council on 11 February 2020, just before the pandemic hit.
The motion passed to schedule a heritage public hearing (item 15.4.1):
Minutes – February 11, 2020 Regional Council | Halifax.ca
Due to the pandemic derailment and then a decision to focus on land use and financial incentives to preserve heritage buildings rather than pursue designation (as council had recently voted against registering another set of heritage properties), the public hearings for these properties were not scheduled.
On 29 January 2025 staff received a demolition permit application for 1717 Brunswick St (The Alehouse).
Demolition permits take a few weeks to process.
The process to pursue heritage status for this property would take at least three months.
The good news:
- Staff are in contact with the owner to talk about options for the site.
- HRM has been processing Heritage Development Agreements lately that are both aesthetically pleasing and attractive to developers, because they encourage “the conservation and adaptive re-use of registered heritage properties in exchange for additional development rights”. The ones I’ve seen at council so far are quite exciting.
Staff are trying to meet with the owner ASAP, and I would like to do the same.
Laura
Update 29 March 2025: both of these meetings have taken place, and we remain optimistic about the future of the Alehouse.
Update 22 October 2025: The demolition permit has been issued per process (in March), but staff and the owner are still working to save the Alehouse.
Some have suggested a third-party heritage registration process for the building. Staff and I feel that this would be counterproductive to the process of trying to preserve the building.
The owner engaged a consultant on this project back in March as well, and I learned from staff last week that they are working on a concept design that includes a heritage registration of the building, which would be required before a Heritage Development Agreement could be approved. This is very positive news, and I think giving the owner time and space to work with staff and their consultant on their options is the best path forward.
Update 22 December 2025: Sorry for the delay in posting this update.
I met with the consultant for this project on 26 November 2025. Plans are progressing well to preserve the Alehouse and add housing to the block via a Heritage Development Agreement (HDA). The owners are working in good faith towards this goal. The plans look good. The Alehouse itself will most likely be for commercial space.
Per staff today:
“The original demolition permit for the Alehouse was issued on Nov 27, 2025, as they met all the requirements for a demolition permit application.”
I’m not clear on what was issued on 27 November vs back in March (see my update above), but I am not concerned.
Also, from staff today:
“the owner and their consultant for this project (W.M. Fares) are still actively working on a (HDA) application for the site, which would retain the Alehouse building in its entirety. The owner will need to apply for and receive heritage registration for the building as a precondition for entering into such an agreement, which they intend to do once their application package is ready. Heritage staff continue to work with the owner and their consultant to see this project through.”
Kudos to staff, the owner and W.M. Fares for their work on this project. Nothing is set in stone, but the owners are investing financially in the planning for this heritage registration and HDA project. They would not do so if they did not intend to follow this path.