Halifax councillors voted to approve bylaw and planning changes to allow the M District redevelopment of mic mac mall, a project that proponents say will convert the site into a major mixed-use community with thousands of residential units and new transit infrastructure. The decision follows a public hearing where neighbours voiced strong concerns about scale and local services.
What Council Approved
Councillors approved changes that enable the M District plan led by two developers drawing up competing proposals for the site. The project is expected to culminate in around 3, 800 units between the two teams but could eventually support up to 4, 600 units on the 24-hectare site. Approvals include a development agreement with one of the developers and bylaw adjustments to permit residential towers ranging from seven to 40 storeys, along with major infrastructure elements such as a transit terminal, a new road and a multi-use path.
Mic Mac Mall Site and M District Plans
The property owner group includes Halifax developer Joe Ramia, president of Rank Inc., and an unnamed group of investors who bought the Mic Mac Mall site in September 2021. Their project, led by a numbered company, envisions about 2, 800 dwelling units, mall upgrades and new commercial and institutional components. The other developer, Dartmouth Properties Ltd., plans to build up to 1, 000 dwelling units around an existing office building on the site.
Representatives for one developer said the plan will transform an aging, 49-acre retail site into a complete urban community, delivered in structured phases that begin with mall upgrades, a parking structure, seniors housing and a new transit terminal while keeping mall operations ongoing during construction.
Local Opposition, Council Concerns and Next Steps
Residents at the public hearing warned the project’s scale will strain neighbourhood services and road access. “The scale of this project is just straight-up greedy, ” said a resident at the hearing, and another described the proposal as too large for the surrounding environment. Councillors shared worries about who will pay for infrastructure upgrades needed to support the influx of residents, and one noted that building what amounts to a small town requires adequate park space and community amenities.
Developers argue the M District advances regional growth targets, addresses housing supply and includes contributions toward senior and affordable housing through incentive zoning. Council approved the necessary planning changes and a development agreement to allow the phased build-out to proceed. With that approval in place, detailed implementation, infrastructure funding and staging will now determine how the redevelopment of mic mac mall moves forward and how the new community will be integrated with existing neighbourhoods.
