A new 26 story building is coming to downtown Dartmouth-right next to the old post office on Queen Street.

Harbour East-Marine Drive Community Council gave the go-ahead May 2, for the project, which was designed by Dartmouth-based, RHAD Architects.

The tower would have 142 units and is set to go on the parking lot next to the post office building, which is currently vacant.

The goal is to preserve the heritage of the post office, which was built in 1914, by rehabilitating the structure before using it as a commercial space.

The tower and the post office would line up and be connected by a glass passageway.

Councillor Sam Austin said when he suggested the post office be a heritage designation in 2020, he assumed any development on the site would use the entire lot and leave no public space.

However, with this project, that is not the case.

Austin said it is “one of the most thoughtful design solutions I’ve seen in a long, long time… where the post office is being left as it is.”

Another councillor echoed this sentiment, calling the project a “beautiful development.”

The First World War memorial will also be refurbished and lit up as part of the design.

In addition to that, the two clock faces from the original tower will be fixed up and installed on the Wentworth Street corner.

Resident concerns

The plan includes two underground levels of parking with 64 spaces; however, residents are concerned it won’t be enough, in addition to the increase in traffic.

Council argues, however, that the expectation for those living in the tower would be to walk, or take the ferry, considering its central location.

Austin adds that parking will be an issue but, he says, “a place where parking is not a challenge, is a place no one wants to be.”

Construction on the project is expected to take two and a half years.