POST SITE

CONTEXTUAL
ANALYSIS
SWOT Analysis of St Patrick’s-Alexandra
School, Brunswick Street, Halifax, NS

Amos Creaser, B00738041 - PLAN 3030

Table of Contents
Site Map .............................................................................................. 1
Background .......................................................................................... 2
SWOT Analysis ...................................................................................... 2
Summary ............................................................................................. 4
Site Images .......................................................................................... 5
Refrences ............................................................................................. 6

Site Map

St Patrick’s-Alexandra School Site Map Source: HRM ZM-1, 2019

 Background
St. Patrick’s-Alexandra school located at 2277 Maitland Street Halifax
Nova Scotia was constructed in 1921. The original structure was
designed by Andrew Cobb, an architect with local ties to the
community and designer of many well-known buildings in the area
(Andrew Randall Cobb, 2017). During the 1970s a large piece was
added to the original school, and the school housed grades primary
through 9th. The school was decommissioned in 2011 because of
upkeep costs and was used mainly as a facility to house local
community groups. Community groups continued to use the space but
were slowly removed until the building was sold in 2016. The property
has sat vacant since and continues to deteriorate and cause ripples in
the surrounding community.

This site analysis hopes to evaluate and asses the St Patrick’s-

Alexandra site utilizing a SWOT analysis. This analysis hopes to obtain
a rounded understanding of all factors affecting this site and give a
clearer picture as to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and
threats this site has to offer.

The site was visited on Friday September 20th, 2019 at approximately

2:45pm. The weather was mild, clear skies, and sunny. First a walk
around the site was conducted, then through the site to see how the
existing new and old structures were connected and then visually
examine the exterior sturdiness.

SWOT Analysis
Strengths
• HRM Centre Plan allows development on this site

• Existing Structure on site

• Near, but out of, Halifax core

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• The site has park and community groups nearby (Hope Blooms
Garden)

• The site is located 1 street down from the main corridor of

Gottingen St, which has transit routes to the Halifax core and
Dartmouth

• Heritage value; façade, architect, community ties

• Existing curb cut

• Possibility for good views above 3 stories

Weaknesses
• Lack of accessibility on site; cars, pedestrians

• Grade change from East to West significant

• Old construction; cost of restoration or demolition (i.e. asbestos)

• Zoning – P: Park and Intuitional

• Gentrification factor – negative feedback from local community

• Large portion of site is covered in old, deteriorated asphalt

Opportunities
• Close proximity to Halifax North Library

• The north end of Halifax, like Gottingen and Agricola street, are up-
and-coming neighborhoods with lots of interest

• Location known to be trendy, chic and hip

• Centre plan allows for development of this site

• The area lacks high density housing; opportunity to lead the way

• The site is close enough in proximity to main corridors to support

mixed residential and commercial use

• Integration of community organizations and use into development

to repair lost community interactions

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Threats
• Local pushback because of gentrification

• Neighboring historic church/attraction may have a negative outlook

on development

• Local groups/organizations fearing new development and exclusion

• Neighboring residential structures

• Contamination on site from previous construction/uses

• Because of the age of the structure, signs of deterioration are

noticeable

Summary

After conducting a site visit and SWOT analysis, the site overall is
shown to offer many opportunities for new or re-development. One of
the biggest assets of the site is its location and proximity to
surrounding amenities and communities. The site is situated in the
North end of Halifax, which is known as a trendy and up-and-coming
neighbourhood with lots of interest for new development. Although the
site is located within the North end, it borders the downtown core of
Halifax, giving the site access to ferry and bus services across the city,
as well as Dartmouth (via bus, ferry, or bridge).

Although the site has existing deteriorating structures, strategies like

facadism could help maintain the historic value while still allowing for
redevelopment and some conservation of the site. Because of the sites
location and historic ties, it would be recommended to keep some
historic aspect and incorporate community groups into the new site.

Overall the site has much potential and could offer exceptional
location, views, and amenities for a future development on site.

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 Site Images

(Creaser, 2019)

Figure 2 East side of original school, looking

Northeast up Brunswick St.

Figure 1 Main structure on site; original school

looking Northwest

Figure 3 Looking onto site from the North, newer

1970s construction attached to original school

Figure 4 Maitland Street looking Southeast,

backside of newer 70s add on

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References

Andrew Randall Cobb, 1876 – 1943. (2017, June 27). Retrieved from
https://museum.novascotia.ca/collections-
research/vanguard/gallery/objects/andrew-randall-cobb-1876-
1943.

Creaser, A. (2019). Site Exterior.

photograph, Halifax.

Purvis, C. (2019, September). Plan

3030. PLAN 3030. Halifax.

Figure 5 East side of site, across Brunswick street