http://kingswharf.ca/index.php en phil.neal@extremegroup.com Copyright 2010 2010-06-11T18:41:09+00:00 http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/about/news/all_is_good_at_kings_wharf/ http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/site/all_is_good_at_kings_wharf/#When:18:41:09Z The Chronicle HeraldBusiness Editor Chris LambieJune 11, 2010 CONSTRUCTION ON THE $500-million King’s Wharf project is getting underway on the Dartmouth waterfront.Developer Francis Fares has been hampered by a series of problems that delayed the original January start date."We just got the building permit this morning," Fares said Thursday."We’re starting tomorrow and driving pile on Monday."He plans simultaneous starts on two 14-storey structures — a 90-unit apartment building and an 80-unit condominium building. The buildings will each cost about $20 million.  Condominiums sales began to "linger a little bit" in February and March due to construction delays."The uncertainty is not good," Fares said.First the developer had to wait while CN contemplated whether he could build a road across the rail line to access the Dartmouth Cove site that used to house the former Dartmouth Marine Slips.  Then the discovery of a 68-year-old sewer pipe running across the land where King’s Wharf is slated to be built presented another hurdle. The pipe, which ties into a nearby pumping station, is meant to carry sewage and storm overflow to Halifax Harbour in extremely wet weather."The pipe was a most difficult issue to work (out)," Fares said."I had to place a bond, like a certified cheque, with the water commission to replace that pipe at my own expense."The bond for $111,621 was handed over to Halifax Water, the city’s water utility. Fares said he is supposed to do the work to replace the old pipe, but the bond is meant to pay for the job in case Halifax Water gets stuck doing it.Just over half of the condominium building has been sold, Fares said, predicting sales would improve with the construction start. Prices on unsold units start at $279,900 and climb to $650,000."There were a lot of people sitting on the fence and I’m sure they will jump because our pricing will be jumping soon."People are already signing up for the rental building, he said, "but we won’t be in a position to rent probably for a year and a half."Construction on a second 80-unit condominium building will start when he has sold 80 per cent of the first one."The second condo building will be 10 per cent more expensive than the first building."King’s Wharf is designed to include 1,300 condominium and rental units, a 200-room hotel and 300,000 square feet of office and commercial space.  The signature building for the project will be 33 storeys tall. It will contain about 180 condos, as well as ground-floor commercial space, and should be under construction by late 2015, Fares said.  He couldn’t pinpoint when work will start on the project’s 10-storey, 100,000-square-foot office building. He doesn’t have a tenant for that part of King’s Wharf."We’re under the mercy of the market conditions and absorption rate and we’ll see how it goes," Fares said. 2010-06-11T18:41:09+00:00 http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/about/news/kings_wharf_celebrates_canada_day_with_flare/ http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/site/kings_wharf_celebrates_canada_day_with_flare/#When:14:30:55Z King’s Wharf is very excited to be hosting an appreciation event for our clients that have supported our development.  This will be an invitation only event for the people who have purchased a condominium or left a deposit on the Iconic Tower, as well as some of our consultants and partners that have been a big part of our planning and development phases.  We are holding this on July 1st to coordinate with the fireworks for Canada Day.  It will be a celebration with music and food and great company.  What a wonderful way for The Keelson residents to meet their neighbours!  Please watch for your invitations in the mail very soon! 2010-05-05T14:30:55+00:00 http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/about/news/kings_wharf_conquers_another_hurdle/ http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/site/kings_wharf_conquers_another_hurdle/#When:13:38:50Z King’s Wharf developer hopes to get permit soonThe Chronicle HeraldBy CHRIS LAMBIE Business EditorTue. May 4 - 4:53 AM The developer behind a $500-million development planned for the Dartmouth waterfront has leaped one hurdle and is hoping to clear another this week. CN has given developer Francis Fares the green light to build a road across the rail line to access the Dartmouth Cove site that used to house the former Dartmouth Marine Slips. Fares had been has been unable to get a building permit from the city for his King’s Wharf project because the rail carrier was considering the proposal. "I’m hoping that (Halifax Regional Municipality) will issue the permit this week, but I’m at their mercy," Fares said Monday. The problem presented by the recent discovery of a 68-year-old sewer pipe running across the land where King’s Wharf is supposed to be built has yet to be resolved. The pipe, which ties into a nearby pumping station, is meant to carry sewage and storm overflow to Halifax Harbour in extremely wet weather. "We proposed a solution and I’m hoping it’s acceptable," Fares said. The developer said he is willing to grant an easement for the pipe, which will have to be moved to another location on his land. If that’s acceptable, Fares said he is ready to start construction next week.Carl Yates, Halifax Water’s general manager, said the utility is now examining Fares proposal. "It’s possible" the King’s Wharf project could get municipal approval this week, Yates said. "That pipe is there for a very crucial role that it plays in terms of managing wet weather overflows." The water utility needs to make sure "the technical fix is there," Yates said. King’s Wharf is designed to include 1,300 condominium and rental units, a 200-room hotel and 300,000 square feet of office and commercial space. Construction was originally slated to start in January. Fares plans simultaneous starts on a 90-unit apartment building and a 79-unit condominium building. 2010-05-04T13:38:50+00:00 http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/about/news/kings_wharf_documentary/ http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/site/kings_wharf_documentary/#When:13:33:17Z 2009-12-01T13:33:17+00:00 http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/about/news/nova_scotia_come_to_life/ http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/site/nova_scotia_come_to_life/#When:18:28:38Z 2009-11-09T18:28:38+00:00 http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/about/news/welcome_to_nova_scotia/ http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/site/welcome_to_nova_scotia/#When:18:26:36Z 2009-11-09T18:26:36+00:00 http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/about/news/chronicle_herald_october_14_2009/ http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/site/chronicle_herald_october_14_2009/#When:19:36:43Z Chronicle Herald  Business, Wednesday, October 14, 2009, p. C1King's Wharf development will transform waterfront; Project to be built in Dartmouth CoveTom Peters Business Reporter The much-anticipated multimillion-dollar King's Wharf project slated for the Dartmouth waterfront will get an official unveiling this week. Developer Francis Fares, owner of Fares Real Estate Inc., said Tuesday he hopes work on the first phase of the project will get underway before the end of the year. The economic spinoffs of the project, located in Dartmouth Cove on the site of the former Dartmouth Marine Slips, will be significant. King's Wharf, which will be developed in phases, will have a construction cost of $300 million over five years, create nearly 700 jobs each year during construction with nearly $25 million in annual wages, and create $20 million worth of commercial space that will generate about $1 million in annual commercial property tax. The residential portion will generate about $4 million annually in property tax. The project will have 1,293 condominiums, a 200-room hotel and convention centre, hotel condo suites, 100,000 square feet of mixed retail space and 40,000 square feet of commercial space. Mr. Fares says he feels his development design will be new to the area. "It's like a Bishop's Landing concept only on a bigger scale," he said. Bishop's Landing, developed by Southwest Properties on the Halifax side of the harbour, is a low-rise development that mixes residential and retail components. King's Wharf will have taller structures, including a 30-storey condo tower. Mr. Fares said prices will start at about $305 a square foot for residential units, which will range in size from 700 square feet up to 1,850 square feet. The developer is optimistic the project will be a success. Its prime location offers total views of the harbour. "It's a peninsula on the water with a southwest exposure. We have a boardwalk across the waterfront so it is a community where people can live, work and enjoy the waterfront. A water taxi will link us to downtown Halifax, we are five minutes from the ferry terminal and we are connected to the Trans Canada Trail," Mr. Fares said. The property, a former marine industrial site owned by the Irving group, has undergone all the required remediation and approvals. "Everything is done and approved and we are ready to start," Mr. Fares said. Suppliers to the project, investors and local dignitaries will get the first glimpse of King's Wharf during a private showing Thursday. About 800 people registered as potential buyers will see the design on Friday, and on Saturday the project will be open for viewing by the general public. Mr. Fares said the feeling in the community for the project has been "very positive." The first building will have 75 units and there will be "great incentives for the first 40 buyers," he said. Construction on King's Wharf, a major residential/commercial development on the Dartmouth waterfront, is expected to get underway by the end of the year. A striking feature of this multi-phase development of Fares Real Estate Inc., is a 30-storey tower, depicted in this rendering.   2009-11-04T19:36:43+00:00 http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/about/news/the_metro_article_october_26/ http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/site/the_metro_article_october_26/#When:13:22:24Z Originally published by Metronews.caOctober 28, 2009By Heather Clarke http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/comment/article/353664--king-s-wharf-offers-rooms-with-a-view Located on the Dartmouth waterfront, units at King’s Wharf offer postcard-perfect views of downtown Halifax. In fact, the views from the new condominium complex are so fantastic that interior designers used it as their inspiration for much of the model suite.“We arranged the furniture to capitalize on the spectacular views of the ocean and the Halifax waterfront,” said Bruce Norman, senior design consultant with Norman Flynn Design. “The view became our inspiration for the interior finishes and material selections.”Norman, who was assisted by junior design consultant Máiréad Fegan, explained their design focuses on three key ingredients: Functionality, light and texture. “The layout is simple and functional, we maximized the natural light and used beautiful lamps and fixtures as ‘jewelry,’ and we used a combination of different materials to create visual interest,” Norman said. He and Fegan flanked the fireplace with natural grass cloth wall-coverings, and contrasted them with exotic rosewood flooring and an ocean-inspired kitchen backsplash. “This suite has an inherent simplicity and isn’t over-decorated,” Norman explained. “We focused on layering quality materials to achieve a timeless, functional aesthetic, and design-savvy buyers will appreciate the subtleties and the quality.”The luxurious kitchen pairs dark espresso drawers with creamy white countertops and cupboards. While the suite is rich in drama, Norman said he and Fegan chose to use colour sparingly. “The walls are painted in muted greys to create a soft backdrop, but what’s interesting is that the door casings and doors are painted an unexpected shade of grey-brown,” he said. “It really stands out, since so many people use predictable white for doors and trim.”They did bring in punches of colour and pattern as accents in the furniture, linens and accessories — like the red glass candle pillars on the dining table, and the cinnamon-coloured rug in the living room.While the suite is bursting with perks — like dreamy custom showers —the most delicious one is enough to light a fire under any potential buyers.“We were able to push the envelope on design by installing a double-sided fireplace between the master bedroom and the main living room,” Norman said. “It’s a rather unexpected design feature, and it’s stunning.”DetailsSuites at King’s Wharf start at $199,900. For more information, please visit www.kingswharf.ca. 2009-11-04T13:22:24+00:00 http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/about/news/we_passed_a_major_milestone/ http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/site/we_passed_a_major_milestone/#When:12:30:12Z We passed a major milestone in the project this summer.  On July 8th, Regional Council of the Halifax Regional Municipality passed unanimously our plan amendments and view plans revisions that were necessary for this project to continue.  On August 5th, Community Council unanimously approved the development agreement in principle, along with Stage 1. 2009-10-15T12:30:12+00:00 http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/about/news/flags_flying/ http://kingswharf.ca/index.php/site/flags_flying/#When:16:45:18Z Weekly News (Dartmouth, Cole Harbour, NS)Friday July 24, 2009Joanne Oostveen The King's Wharf banners on Alderney Drive are flying, signalling the start of construction of the $300-million project. "What you see happening right now is the construction of the sales office and model suite," said developer Francis Fares. "Once the office and model suite is open in the fall, people can drop by and see for themselves what King's Wharf will be all about." King's Wharf will be built in six phases and will include 1,200 residential condos, a 200-room hotel and convention centre, hotel condo sites, 230,000 square feet of mixed retail shopping and 50,000 square feet of commercial space. The project will take up about 10 acres of land and 20 acres of pre-confederation water lots, said Fares. "And we are now doing some infilling of the site near the harbour. We will be claiming about half an acre in total there." Fares is happy that people have expressed an interest in the latest construction activity down at the site and says he wants people to know the model suite will be housed in an original old warehouse. He explains they are doing all they can to make this project one that reflects good recycling practices. Construction will start on a 12-storey building in the late fall, said Fares, and it will contain two levels of indoor parking and be home to residences with commercial offices on the main floor. "There will be so much for people to look forward to," said Fares. "King's Wharf will transform Dartmouth Cove into the new heart of Halifax Harbour." He said there will be great incentives for those who decide to buy early, but wouldn't say exactly what those would be. "Interested customers can visit the sales office and follow the updates online. All they have to do is call the office and they can be added to our email list," said Fares. "This will be very vibrant, inviting and happening for Dartmouth."   2009-07-24T16:45:18+00:00