Queen's Marque developer gathers public space design ideas

There were plenty of ideas shared for the public space portion of the Queen's Marque development.

The $200 million condo, commercial and hotel project will transform the Halifax waterfront over the next three years and the Waterfront Development Corporation gathered feedback on how 75,000 square feet of the public space should be used.

People were encouraged to write suggestions on sticky notes. Phil O'Hara, one of about 100 people who showed up at the meeting with ideas, said see-through floors, statues that reveal themselves at low tide, and a performance space shaped like a whale that could also be used as a splash pad, would be interesting additions.

"When there weren't performances, there could be blowholes to blow water out that children could stand on," suggested O'Hara.

Design in the works

The project's design has already gone through several stages of approval, and includes Maritime inspired ramps, stairs leading towards the harbour, and an art installation.

Scott McCrea, the CEO of Armour Developments, said the final design isn't set in stone yet. 

"We're moving through the HRM by design process and through that process we get suggestions for changes. We are making some changes and those will be highlighted when we do our final formal submission which is expected very soon," said McCrea.

The development will see a significant portion of the waterfront transformed. The parking lot next to the Museum of the Atlantic will soon be the site of a massive construction project.

The project will block foot traffic along the waterfront boardwalk during construction. A spokesman with the Waterfront 
Development Corporation said they're working on a plan for pedestrians.