June 11, 2010

After a series of problems that delayed a January construction start, a building permit has been issued and work has started on the first building at the $500-million King's Wharf development on the Dartmouth waterfront.

The building will cost about $20 million.

Fares Real Estate asked EDM to design and take on project co-ordination for King's Wharf, a mix of residential, retail and commercial buildings

Work was initially been delayed by confusion with CN over road access across their rail line to the site on Dartmouth Cove, the former Dartmouth Marine Slips.

Then Halifax Regional Municipality required Fares to post a bond when it discovered a 68-year-old sewer pipe running across the land where King's Wharf was to be built. The pipe, which ties into a nearby pumping station, was meant to carry sewage and storm overflow to Halifax Harbour in extremely wet weather.

A bond for $111,621 was handed over to Halifax Water, the city's water utility as a security that requires Fares to do the work to replace the old pipe or to pay for the job in case Halifax Water was left to do it.