Armour Group’s Waterside Centre is going to an appeal.

In a statement released Friday, Armour president Doug MacIsaac said appealing to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board is an “unprecedented decision” for the company.

“Armour has historically respected the decisions of council, viewing them as reflections of public opinion,” MacIsaac said.

“However following the recent session of council, there was immediate public backlash. We have also been asked by many individuals and many members of the business community to appeal this decision to the UARB.”

Premier Rodney MacDonald was so upset at council’s decision to vote down Armour’s planned redevelopment of six heritage buildings that he threatened to enact legislation that would overturn it.

On Friday, the premier said the province will apply for intervenor status in the Waterside Centre appeal. He said the project will bring much-needed class-A office space in the downtown, while also creating tax revenue and jobs in the trades.

“The way it is now, everyone loses,” MacDonald said. “The developer can’t build and the heritage sites will be torn down; that just can’t happen. The only way these heritage buildings will be saved is by incorporating them into a modern city.”

Armour has applied to take the buildings down and already began doing so at one property that’s already approved.

The project would’ve preserved the facades of six heritage buildings on the corner of Duke, Hollis and Upper Water Streets and put a six-storey glass tower on top.

Armour said it’s the only economically sustainable solution to redevelop the site.

The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia has led the fight against the development. Trust president Phil Pacey said Friday the appeal is unfortunate, but Armour has the right to do so.

To stop those demolitions, Pacey has offered to help find tenants to protect the future of the buildings, but Armour said the status quo is not an option. Pacey is also hoping a land exchange with the province can be a solution.