A new waterfront apartment development called The Banks is drawing opposition from some residents in downtown Charlottetown [1].
The project highlights a growing tension between urban densification and the preservation of neighborhood character in Prince Edward Island. As the city expands, the scale of new builds often clashes with the expectations of those living in established areas.
Developer Tim Banks and APM MacLean are planning the construction on Haviland Street [1]. The site is located between Founders’ Food Hall and an existing condo building on the waterfront [1, 2].
The proposed building will contain 49 residential units [1]. There are conflicting reports regarding the height of the structure, with sources citing it as either seven storeys [1] or eight storeys [2, 3].
Local residents have raised concerns about the scale of the project and how it will affect the waterfront streetscape [1, 3]. Opponents of the development said the building could negatively impact the character of the area and increase traffic congestion [1, 3].
The debate centers on whether the project fits the existing urban fabric of the downtown core. While developers seek to maximize residential capacity, neighbors argue that the building's massing is too aggressive for the specific location on Haviland Street [1, 3].
“The Banks development on Haviland Street faces criticism over its scale.”
This dispute reflects a common urban planning conflict where the need for increased housing density in city centers meets community resistance to 'over-development.' The disagreement over the building's height—ranging from seven to eight storeys—suggests a lack of consensus or clarity in the public communication of the project's specifications, which may further fuel resident skepticism.
