Photo: Hobrecker Mansion (© 2017 Barry Copp)
HALIFAX'S YOUNG AVENUE
Young Avenue is perhaps one of the most unusual and beautiful avenues in Nova Scotia. It was originally designed by Sir William Young as a grand public avenue with impressive homes set back from the street leading to Point Pleasant Park's entrance and its famous golden gates.
This unique streetscape was part of the City Beautiful Movement sweeping across North America during the 1890s and 1900s. A number of important Nova Scotians made this avenue their home. Preservation and adaptive re-use are key to keeping this important historic streetscape and identity from poor development and misuse.
Help protect Young Avenue and save it as one of Halifax's most important historic streetscapes.
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Let's make it a pre-eminent Heritage Conservation District.
Photo: Young Avenue (© 2017 Barry Copp)
Young Avenue historic district features a variety of architectural styles in stately homes showcasing the grand splendour of the area and its rich history. It is located in a quiet neighbourhood next to Halifax peninsula's largest park, historic Point Pleasant Park.
Young Avenue is ideally located. Easily accessible by public transportation, near schools, recreation facilities, restaurants, bars, galleries, and close to the downtown core.
Surprisingly perhaps, these homes are often occupied not by large young families, but owned by one or two adults with room/apartment rentals.
Yet for all its large homes, it also has many smaller two-story and split-level houses, built in the 1950s, 60s and 70s for a population that moved to the area at the time.
Three-story Edwardian or Victorians with seven or eight bedrooms are common on both sides of the avenue.
Many of the large mansions have been restored throughout, while others are awaiting their chance to get back to their original grace and glory.
Because of its beauty and charm, Young Avenue is one of the most sought after locations in metro Halifax.
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Photo: A modern mansion with traditional architecture on Young Avenue (© 2017 Barry Copp)
Photo: A home with contemporary architecture on Young Avenue (© 2017 Barry Copp)
Photo: Post Modern home (Courtesy MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects & photographer, James Steeves)