Planners see big potential in Halifax casino site as casino prepares to move
Casino Nova Scotia is heading to Dartmouth Crossing, leaving a waterfront property assessed at about $48.5 million up for sale.
The Halifax waterfront property that has housed Casino Nova Scotia for 25 years is going up for sale. Planners say it could reshape a key part of downtown.
On January 14, the province announced a deal with Great Canadian Entertainment for a new Casino Nova Scotia location. It will be built at Dartmouth Crossing, near the IKEA on Cutler Avenue. The new casino is expected to open in 2029. Great Canadian will own, operate and maintain it, and the Halifax casino will keep running until then.
The current property, at 1983 Upper Water St., will be listed for sale with CBRE Halifax. It has been assessed at about $48.5 million, according to CTV News. The province earned $41.6 million from casino operations in Halifax and Sydney last year. The Sydney casino is not moving.
Ideas for the site
Eric Rapaport, director of Dalhousie University's School of Planning, told CTV News his first reaction to the sale was "Opportunity, opportunity, opportunity." He suggested a mix of development and open public space, such as basketball or pickleball courts, for people living downtown. Across the street, the Cogswell redevelopment is set to add 3,400 homes.
The Downtown Halifax Business Commission called the site a once in a lifetime opportunity, The Signal reported. Communications manager Jayme Lynn Butt said several downtown priorities could fit there. They include a 1,500-seat performing arts centre, a new art gallery location, permanent outdoor event space or a transit hub.
Mark Turner, president of the real estate consulting firm Turner Drake & Partners, said the building's unusual design could make it hard to repurpose. A developer would need to decide whether to stay connected to the downtown pedway system and whether to keep the waterfront publicly accessible.
No decision yet
Premier Tim Houston called Halifax's waterfront remarkable but said there is no public decision on the site. He said he did not think the province needs to own the property and would work through its best use.
A province spokesperson told The Signal the plan is to acquire the Dartmouth land for a nominal sum. The downtown land would then be sold to get the most value for taxpayers. With the new casino not due until 2029, any change on the waterfront is years away.