Shannon Park redevelopment options presented at public meeting

Three options for redeveloping the Shannon Park site in north-end Dartmouth were presented at a public meeting Wednesday night.

Each one has a different approach to public space and building layout but all of them include a waterfront trail.

"There's a bit of an opportunity here to push the envelope, I think." said Chris Millier, director of Real Estate for the Canada Lands Company, the federal agency overseeing the project.

"But having said that, we want to hear what the community says."

The 39-hectare site is a former military housing complex and has been empty since 2003.Recently the city decided not to build a stadium on the property.

The three different concepts were titled the Grand Boulevard, the Harbour Vista and the Central Square.

Each of them has a main residential neighbourhood, a mixed-use zone where therecould be higher towers and a commercial sector that could include small office buildings.

The higher towers will not be close to the shoreline and all three proposals have a waterfront trail.

Roseanna Cleveland lives in north-end Dartmouth and is the chair of a community group called the Take Action Society. She is impressed with the Harbour Vista concept.

"Because it does offer more green space that goes up the middle of the new community they're thinking about building."

Ian Watson used to attend school in the Shannon Park area.

"So far it's really exciting and positive." said Watson. "At this point, it's fairly high level.I'm looking forward to seeing the details."

A draft plan is expected to be ready by the spring. It could have elements of all three proposals depending on public feedback.

Officials with Canada Lands hope construction will getunderway in 2019.Up to 3,500 units could be phased in over 15 years.

Meanwhile plans to tear down the existing derelict buildings are underway.

Companies interested in bidding on the work can get tours of the site Thursday morning and next Wednesday.Tenders have to be in by Dec. 10.

Demolition is expected to take place over the winter.

Check out this 360-degree view of Shannon Park.