General Updates and News

[fenwick16]

no pic's of the building itself.

They should change the hotel idea to more residential. There is enough rooms in existing, and in the pipeline (1200 to be exact).

This is the sort of development that adds to the quality of life in Halifax. At 500,000 square feet it is also a major development that should bring more people to that part of Halifax. Being so close to the Public Gardens I would expect a lot of demand for the residential and hotel portions. Also, if the Convention Centre goes ahead there will be more demand for the hotel portion. It seems that the downtown area is expanding more and more along the Spring Garden Road area.

I look forward to seeing renderings.

[Dmajackson]

My only question is do they own the CBC building or is it just going to be the current YCMA site?

Also lets hope they put the parking garage entrance on the rear street (where Park Lane entrance is).

[planarchy]

My only question is do they own the CBC building or is it just going to be the current YCMA site?

Also lets hope they put the parking garage entrance on the rear street (where Park Lane entrance is).

It is both sites. It states on the website that the development application will be jointly submitted by the YMCA and the CBC before the end of 2009, although I suspect that it won't happen until 2010.

[planarchy]

deleted- posted twice.

[Dmajackson]

It is both sites. It states on the website that the development application will be jointly submitted by the YMCA and the CBC before the end of 2009, although I suspect that it won't happen until 2010.

Ok then thanks.

So now that HRM by Design is in place that means the CBC lot is restricted to 35m and the YMCA is restricted to 49m (post-bonus). So don't expect anything tall especially with the ramparts so nearby.

[Jonovision]

I'm excited to see this project. It's another Michael Napier building. So it should be pretty good. He has been doing a lot of nice buildings as of late.

[someone123]

They've been talking about it for a while as a longer-term project. Could be really great for the city, although I like the CBC building and I hope they manage to retain some of its appeal. The YMCA, on the other hand, is not that interesting architecturally and not that visible.

[fenwick16]

They've been talking about it for a while as a longer-term project. Could be really great for the city, although I like the CBC building and I hope they manage to retain some of its appeal. The YMCA, on the other hand, is not that interesting architecturally and not that visible.

Yes it would be disappointing to see the CBC building demolished.

[Jonovision]

Two typical articles from the Metro today. The second one is rather interesting as it mentions Salters Block hopefully getting underway soon and also some sort of development beside the NSP Headquarters on the waterfront. Although I don't know how accurately the reporting in the Metro can be trusted.....

Diversity is key to a thriving downtown, Sloane says


JON TATTRIE
METRO HALIFAX
November 25, 2009 12:06 a.m.

During a recent business trip to Milwaukee, Halifax downtown councillor Dawn Sloane was struck by the absence of life in the American city’s centre.
“Many cities at this point in time, their downtowns are dead,” she reflects. She was relieved to return to Halifax’s lively downtown and sees its development as crucial to the future of the whole of HRM.
The history and future of downtown is diversity, she says. “We have everything from low-income to high income, from the homeless to those that are not — we have it all, when it comes to housing and constituents,” she says. “We want to keep a mix that keeps that buzz in the air and keeps the place interesting to live in.”
So while glamorous new condos sprout up to lure young professionals downtown, affordable housing finds a place too.
She points to recent housing developments on Creighton and Maynard streets in her own neighbourhood.
“That’s 19 people who would have been homeless,” she says. “We’re trying to make sure things are balanced so we don’t gentrify the neighbourhood. We make sure there’s housing for everyone.”
She’s a fan of HRMbyDesign, too. The blueprint for HRM’s physical future envisions more people living and walking downtown.
“It talks about complete neighbourhoods, about having it so things are walkable, that streetscapes are esthetically pleasing and make you want to walk down the street,” she says.
Walkable neighbourhoods build community and protect the environment, as people don’t automatically hop into their car when they go out the front door. Sloane would also like to see the Granville Mall find a twin on Argyle Street, with the area either becoming fully pedestrianized or closing to cars in the evening.
The key to much of the planned growth is luring residents.
“I would hope that we could achieve the goal of more population within District 12,” she says.
Pulling people back to the centre after years of outward sprawl would help build amenities downtown, support local, small-scale stores and cut back on the traffic problems of getting suburbanites to work in the city core.
“In doing so, we create community again and you get to know your neighbours,” she says.





New projects abound on Halifax's waterfront


JON TATTRIE
METRO HALIFAX
November 25, 2009 12:10 a.m.

The Halifax waterfront has come a long way since the 1950s, when ordinary citizens could barely access the water.
The boardwalk was expanded this summer, meaning the wooden planks stretch almost the entire three kilometres from Pier 21 to Casino Nova Scotia.
Colin MacLean, CEO of the Waterfront Corporation, took Metro on a virtual tour of the present and near future.
He started with the recently refurbished Cable Wharf. The home of Murphy’s on the Waterfront is finishing a $2-million upgrade that allows it to stay open year-round.
“What we anticipate to see in the spring is joint work we’re going to do on an interpretive program,” MacLean says.
The public boardwalk around Murphy’s will draw attention to its roots as the site where telecommunication cables started their trans-Atlantic journey. Titanic victims were also temporarily stored there during the recovery operation.
“We’re going to try to bring that history to life,” he says.
The Salter Block Development next to Bishop’s Landing is in the “deep planning phase,” MacLean says.
The parking lot is to be turned into a hotel-apartment-commercial complex with a one-acre public park. The plans were slowed by the economic downturn, but he’s hopeful to see work beginning next year.
Big plans are in the works for the Cunard parking lot next door to the Nova Scotia Power headquarters that is also undergoing extensive rebuilding.
“We’re getting some consultants to help us think through what some of the options might be there,” MacLean says.
“The broad idea will be guided by HRMbyDesign. I suspect it will be more on the residential side.”
Like Bishop’s Landing, that will include commercial activity on the ground floor. In the meantime, the Waterfront Corp. is looking to expand the vendor kiosks on the waterfront. The food, beverage and souvenir shacks currently cluster around Queens Landing but may expand to the Cunard site until the area is redeveloped.
“We’ve had a number of people talk about that location, particularly with the increased number of cruise ship activity. It might provide some interesting entrepreneurial opportunities,” he says.
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic has long been rumoured to be on the cusp of expansion, but Dave Denny of the province’s department of tourism and culture pours cold water on that idea.
“There’s been no decision of expansion of the MMA. That’s just not in the works at this point,” he says.

[Keith P.]

Usual Sloane bullshit. I was in Milwaukee a few years ago and the lakefront was vibrant. Maybe everyone saw her coming, and left.

[sdm]

Usual Sloane bullshit. I was in Milwaukee a few years ago and the lakefront was vibrant. Maybe everyone saw her coming, and left.

That and she now supports HRM by Design? and see's the importance of downtown development?

Talk about flip flop.

[Dmajackson]

Public Invited to Review Draft Report on Future Use of Khyber Building

(Thursday, November 26, 2009) - Halifax Regional Municipality is inviting the public to review a draft report on the potential operating scenarios for 1588 Barrington Street (also commonly known as the "Khyber Building"), as a potential artist-run centre. The report was prepared by the consultants’ firm of TCI Management, to analyse the costs and benefits of five potential operating scenarios.

The report can be accessed online at http://www.halifax.ca/crca/FeasibilityReport.html. Copies are also available at the Bloomfield Centre (2786 Agricola Street); at the Khyber Building (1588 Barrington Street); or by calling 490-4083.

The consultants are asking the public to review the draft report and provide comments on the potential operating scenarios, on the report’s assumptions, and on the proposed building uses, programming and design. The survey will be released on December 9, 2009.

The public engagement process will take place as follows:
1. Public Review of Draft Report: November 26, 2009 to January 8, 2010
2. Public Information Session: December 9, 2009 (Bloomfield Centre)
• 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
3. Public Survey: December 9, 2009 to January 8, 2010

Results from the public engagement process will inform the consultants’ final report, and HRM staff recommendations to Regional Council.

- 30 -

[Keith P.]

Blow it up, along with the adjacent eyesores.

[sdm]

Blow it up, along with the adjacent eyesores.

Agree

[hfx_chris]

That would be a shame, I think the Khyber building is the nicest of the group.

[someone123]

The Khyber's been discussed many times in the past. I think that it's an interesting building but that it's not really appropriate for where it is. Ideally I would like to see it moved to some other part of the city and replaced with a mid-sized commercial building. Maybe the Khyber could be incorporated into the new library or moved to Gottingen Street, where a cluster of similar cultural venues is emerging.

In general I wish more thought would go into moving historic buildings in Halifax. It's not really that expensive when you think of the money that is made from new developments, and it's something that was done long ago when it was much more difficult and expensive. The Morris house on Hollis was moved about a hundred years ago, for example, but it looks like it's just going to be ploughed under in a few months. Halifax could do so much better if things were just coordinated better - both the money and the assets are there to make a great city, they're just not being managed properly.

[sdm]

The Khyber's been discussed many times in the past. I think that it's an interesting building but that it's not really appropriate for where it is. Ideally I would like to see it moved to some other part of the city and replaced with a mid-sized commercial building. Maybe the Khyber could be incorporated into the new library or moved to Gottingen Street, where a cluster of similar cultural venues is emerging.

In general I wish more thought would go into moving historic buildings in Halifax. It's not really that expensive when you think of the money that is made from new developments, and it's something that was done long ago when it was much more difficult and expensive. The Morris house on Hollis was moved about a hundred years ago, for example, but it looks like it's just going to be ploughed under in a few months. Halifax could do so much better if things were just coordinated better - both the money and the assets are there to make a great city, they're just not being managed properly.

they dismantle castles and move them, don't see why they couldn;t do that with a brick structure. besides, probably could afford to be a bit more modern with respect to the internal structure.

I, like you stated, would rather see a small commercial building in its place.

I for one don't think tax payers money should be spent to fix the building only to turn around and rent at a discount and collect 0 tax revenue from it.

[someone123]

One of the big factors here is that the Khyber is surrounded by a few underused properties. The old CD Plus building or whatever is small and ugly. On the other side is a part of the Neptune, which is fine, but beyond that is the derelict NFB Building which has been in that state for ages.

It would be possible to save and move three of those facades to other empty sites in less developed areas and then redevelop that whole chunk of the block. A handful of storefronts of different sizes could be added plus residential above, along the lines of Barrington Gate (though hopefully a little nicer), a building that's been doing just fine ever since it was built. I would guess that it would also be possible to add a couple floors of residential above the Neptune itself, although it's in a viewplane (so is the Marriott and it is seven storeys and one block up).

I also wouldn't be shedding any tears if that stretch of two-storey buildings across the street were replaced. Some of those storefronts are kind of nice (Fireworks for example) but they're just not a good use of the land.

[JET]

There was recent mention of Barrington being a heritage area, and rightly so. The Kyber will stay where it is, and rightly so. It's a beautiful building. I have a xms tree ornament of it; so yeah, I'm partial. JET

[hfx_chris]

I have a xms tree ornament of it; so yeah, I'm partial. JET
Okay now I'm jealous...

[JET]

Okay now I'm jealous...

My wife and I used to go to Wormwoods when it was in the attic in the late 80's. I gave it to her as a xmas present. nice ornament, nice building. I guess that's why I like the old buildings. So much history. So much sentimentality ! JET

[fenwick16]

This is the type of building that Halifax should be proud of.

[macgregor]

Two typical articles from the Metro today. The second one is rather interesting as it mentions Salters Block hopefully getting underway soon and also some sort of development beside the NSP Headquarters on the waterfront. Although I don't know how accurately the reporting in the Metro can be trusted.....

I just noticed a new reference to the “Cunard Block” on their website. (The site on Lower Water Street between NS Power's new headquarters and Bishops Landing South Building). However, there have been on and off references to it for a few years. I don't think we will see much for a while and would think that they should focus first on getting Salter Block and Queen's Landing off the ground. I do think that vendor kiosks would be good for the site though!

I think that the operating model of the WDCL is slightly frustrating. They are responsible for keeping balanced books for their agency, which means they are dependent upon parking revenues to do so. When they develop a property, such as Salter Block, they loose parking revenue when construction starts until the time that the lot is developed and rental revenue flows. Although this is an incentive to get projects finished quickly, I sometimes wonder if this has stifled development at all.

[macgregor]

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic did a few more weeks of wharf work last month. Presently they have taken the wood siding off the southeast corner of the museum. Are they replacing it or repairing it? I don't much like the current look of the museum. The diagonal wood strips are pretty dowdy.

[sdm]

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic did a few more weeks of wharf work last month. Presently they have taken the wood siding off the southeast corner of the museum. Are they replacing it or repairing it? I don't much like the current look of the museum. The diagonal wood strips are pretty dowdy.

Whichs backs up your previous assumptions on their development goals. Why would you spend money if you intend to proceed with the redevelopment of that building and site?

Got to admit is frustrating to see something like queenslanding being proposed almost 5 years ago, yet nothing has happen. I thought it was a great project that everyone could enjoy.

[Dmajackson]

Bridge safety barrier nearly complete
Legal issue spurred construction
By MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE Staff Reporter
Thu. Dec 3 - 4:46 AM

Years ago, officials running metro’s two harbour bridges were advised against extending the railing on the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge to help prevent suicides and vandals tossing debris.

The engineering opinion of the day was the span should not accept additional weight.

But last year a new opinion said the original weight-related concern was not an issue, and now the safety-barrier extension project on the Macdonald bridge is nearly done, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

Alison MacDonald said the $1.2-million job should be finished by the end of the month, weather permitting. Work began in mid-August.

It started after an in-depth analysis of bridge operations was done, she said, and a clearer engineering opinion emerged with the help of computer modelling unavailable in the past.

"And so when we had that definitive answer, we put it in the budget to add the barriers," said Ms. MacDonald, of Halifax Harbour Bridges, a provincial Crown corporation.

Prior to the project’s start in the summer, a high safety fence had been fitted on the bridge over property belonging to the Defence Department.

Ms. MacDonald said that installation was to satisfy terms of a legal settlement because Defence Department property was getting dinged by objects propelled from the bridge, including traffic cones and a television set.

"Our goal was just to get the barriers up and not make a big deal out of it," she told The Chronicle Herald.

Halifax Harbour Bridges (formerly the Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission) had been criticized in the past by mental health advocates for its lack of a higher barrier on the Macdonald bridge. The new fence, which is on the pedestrian and bicycle lane sides, curls inward at the top and toward bridge users.

Ms. MacDonald said major construction on the span is still a few years away. In 2015, the bridge is to undergo a redecking at a cost of about $130 million.

In 2005, a small crowd gathered on the Dartmouth side of the Macdonald bridge to mark the site’s 50th anniversary.

The bridge was built in 1955, a time when Louis St-Laurent was Canada’s prime minister, the nation’s young veterans were marking the 10th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the late Martin Luther King Jr. led his first major civil rights protest in the United States.

( mlightstone@herald.ca )

100

A new face on Brenton Street after businesses move, close
Halifax News Net
By Lindsay Jones – The Weekly News

The face of Brenton Street is changing. While several businesses have either moved out or closed down on the Spring Garden Road side street recently, a new store has moved in.
Duly Noted Stationery, which has established itself printing wedding invitations, corporate event menus, business cards and restaurant menus, on Quinpool Road, has opened a second location in the former Frog Hollow Books’ space on Brenton Street. The plan is to close the Quinpool Road location in February after the busy Christmas season.
“(Quinpool Road) is a great spot for retail, almost like a salmon spring for small businesses — the rent is low and there’s lots of traffic — but of course, Spring Garden Road is the premier shopping area of the peninsula and it made sense for us to go there now that we’re a more mature business,” said Duly Noted co-owner Mike Smith. “We really enjoyed Quinpool, but we needed more space and a better layout. It just wasn’t the right kind of space for the business we want to do.”
The new brighter, bigger store has a separate room serving as a consultation area.
Duly Noted is also launching an online store with the goal to expand its sales of high-end office products across the country.
Smith’s wife and business partner Nicole Venema said the Quinpool store, which is also an outlet for Ticketpro sales, was just too crowded.
Since the lease was up, moving downtown was the logical thing to do, she says.
“I think that because our business is a destination, it doesn’t matter if we’re on a main strip,” Venema said.
Brenton Street has also seen its share of businesses move out over the last several months. Totally Yours salon has relocated to Fenwick Street in south-end Halifax. Dio Mio Gelato International Cafe, an ice cream institution, has gone out of business.
Bernie Smith, the manager of the Spring Garden Area Business Association, says that so far, he hasn’t heard of anyone with plans to move into the empty store fronts with for lease signs along Brenton Street, but he’s hopeful the tide will turn.
“There’s an emphasis on continued invigoration on the side streets,” Smith said. “They’re filling out all the time, and I’m sure the Trillium (development on South Park Street) will add to the pedestrian traffic on Brenton Street.”
Smith said the former Dio Mio space would be ideal for a restaurant.
“It just has to be marketed,” he said.
The former Totally Yours space would also make a nice restaurant or boutique, he adds.
“People might think we have enough boutiques, but people like strolling around and looking at the fashions, and another one would fit in just fine.”

ljones@hfxnews.ca

[ScovaNotian]

The Coast mentions plans for Sam the Record Man: http://www.thecoast.ca/Shoptalk/archives/2009/12/04/starfish-releases-development-plans-on-barrington-street.

[Jonovision]

The Coast mentions plans for Sam the Record Man: http://www.thecoast.ca/Shoptalk/archives/2009/12/04/starfish-releases-development-plans-on-barrington-street.

Starfish Releases Development Plans on Barrington Street
POSTED BY CARSTEN KNOX ON FRI, DEC 4, 2009 AT 4:00 AM
Shoptalk has learned that a development plan for the former Sam The Record Man property and the buildings adjacent, owned by Barrington Street supremos Starfish Properties, is ready to go ahead. The plans indicate the building facades will be maintained, with interconnected office and ground-floor commerical space behind, linked to Argyle Street properties. Also planned is a two-storey addition in a "contemporary glass and metal facade" style above and behind the three-storey existing facade. This will be the first new development to move forward under the HRM by Design umbrella.
Watch Reality Bites for more information in the days to come, or drop by Starfish's offices (1668 Barrington) on December 21 between 7-9pm for an open house on the new project.

[Dmajackson]

^Sounds like a good idea.

It won't bring much more density to the area but at least it will be a good revitalization without pissing off the HT too much.

[DigitalNinja]

Quick approval process as well :D

[planarchy]

Sam's Renovation

http://www.starfishproperties.ca/barringtonespace/barrington_pres.pdf

[JET]

Smith seeks new law on derelict buildings
Dartmouth councillor wants city to be able to confiscate abandoned properties

http://thechronicleherald.ca/DCW/1156434.html

[Dmajackson]

Sam's Renovation

http://www.starfishproperties.ca/barringtonespace/barrington_pres.pdf

Looks good. :)

I can't see any controversial parts to this project so a quick approval process should be expected. Of course if the HRM by Design guys run anything like Council it'll be dead for a couple of years.

[someone123]

Perfect sort of development for that site. It will add density and modern space while retaining what makes that part of the street attractive.

The HbD approval process isn't the same as the old regional council process; it's quicker and appeals are more limited. Something like this is clearly designed based on the HbD guidelines to begin with and I expect that it will be essentially rubber stamped. That was a big part of the advantage to moving to this new style of development approvals.

[Jonovision]

Looks like a good addition. I'm excited to see how everything will run through the new process. And I'm glad to see things happening for Barrington Street. It is sooooo badly needed.

I pulled these off the pdf.

http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/17489/2482915420096709958S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2482915420096709958LwWMWk)

http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/43548/2137991330096709958S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2137991330096709958owjXKQ)

http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/24920/2439933630096709958S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2439933630096709958ViobAe)

http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/11882/2471373780096709958S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2471373780096709958enczoh)

http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/44345/2173709110096709958S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2173709110096709958NhZtfk)

[fenwick16]

This looks very good. It appears as though the buildings will be restored and the addition looks good. Hopefully there will be more projects like this.

[spaustin]

Great stuff. I'm glad the Roy looks like an exception and that Starfish hasn't given up on restoring heritage buildings. They've been the best thing to happen to Barrington Street what with their future plans and past success (G.M. Smith Building, Brander Morris Building and the Nova Scotia Furniture Building not to mention Morses Teas).

[kph06]

The for sale sign is off the Thompson building on Barrington and a space for lease one is now up. Lights were on and a friend of mine who lives across the street said people were in today cleaning up. It almost seems as though it may be leased out as is.

[Jonovision]

I just realized that the lightwell in the back of the building is the old part of the Economy Shoe Shop that was recently shut down. It's a shame though, it was my favorite place to sit in there.

[Dr SweetLove]

Yes' we will all mis the backstage my friend:cheers:

[mcmcclassic]

Starfish reveals plans for the old Sam the mp3 man
First new development under HRM by Design fits nicely with city's downtown vision.

Last week Starfish Properties, the real estate company that owns a number of vacant buildings and storefronts on Barrington Street, released a design plan for the former Sam the Record Man and the businesses directly adjacent, which include the former Granite Brewery and Ginger's Tavern.

It will be the first new development proposed under new HRM By Design rules. The plans detail big changes to the interior, connecting the three properties to each other and with Argyle Street, and adding two more floors above the three existing. The facades of the buildings will be maintained and storefront retail is planned for street level.

"We have a lot of interest for Barrington Street," asserts Starfish property manager Rob Landry. "Contrary to popular belief."

The plans fit nicely with the HRM By Design criteria, suggests HRM heritage planner Bill Plaskett. "Having said that, posting application details are part of the process and it has to go through the new design review committee," he says. "If it goes through, it will be a great renewal" of the buildings.

Heritage Trust president Peter Delefes is encouraged that architect David F. Garrett is on board, but has a few concerns about the design, including that the added floors will be in stark contrast with the existing building; he would prefer something more "sympathetic." Another element Delefes opposes is "facadism," or the preserving of the exterior while gutting the building's interior. "That's not an accepted form of heritage conservation," he says. "It's a concern because it sets a precedent for the whole streetscape."

Starfish will host a public open house for the new project at its offices (1668 Barrington Street, suite 200) December 21 from 7-9pm, beginning the formal HRM By Design process. As early as mid-February work on the buildings could begin, allowing for appeals or any hitches in the new process. —Carsten Knox


I don't think anything can please the Heritage Trust haha.

[Dmajackson]

^Holy S**T they're expecting construction in February?!

Man if stuff can get through that quickly councillor's are gonna look like morons with there 18month+ decisions.

[mcmcclassic]

If Starfish actually gets to start working on this project in February, that will be excellent news for any other developers wanting to build in the HbD designated zone. Council's long approval times have long crushed many development dreams in this city.

[someone123]

That's the kind of delay that actually seems reasonable. There's no reason for a project like this to remain in limbo for years.

Slightly annoying to hear the same old complaint about "sympathetic" design and materials.

[Dr SweetLove]

I don't like this heritage trust r they some sort of obstructing organisation

[Dr SweetLove]

If Starfish actually gets to start working on this project in February, that will be excellent news for any other developers wanting to build in the HbD designated zone. Council's long approval times have long crushed many development dreams in this city.

that makes a lot of sence. i'm gonna have me fingers crossed it starts, not only because it could be the start of a new future for the street but also cus I don't like dem heritage guys already. from redin older posts I though these guys where against anythig tall this ain't tall and still they whinge :haha: losers

[Dmajackson]

I don't think this has been mentioned but all the projects under HbD will still have a case number and have a information page on the municipal website (or in this case PDF).

For the Starfish proposal it is Case 01348

[Jonovision]

From todays Herald:


Discover Dartmouth?

Kids’ science centre in Halifax touted as new feature for Alderney Landing


By CHRIS LAMBIE Business Editor

The head of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commis sion is trying to lure the Dis covery Centre from Barrington Street to Alderney Landing.

But the executive director of Alderney Landing says even though it would be nice to have the children’s science facility on the Dartmouth waterfront, it wouldn’t fit in the cultural centre.

“The Alderney Landing oper ation is a weekend, evening kind of location for cultural en tertainment — major shows outside and major shows in side," the commission’s Tim Olive said Friday.

“During the days, generally speaking, the building is way underutilized. The Discovery Centre, on the other hand, if they were in there, they would assume management of the en tertainment facility, so we would not lose that in Dart mouth. But what we would gain is a daily, seven-day-a-week Discovery Centre that would encourage and invite people . . . to visit what would then be a new and enlarged science cen tre."

Alderney Landing would re tain its entertainment facili ties, Mr. Olive said.

But “there are things that would not stay there," he said. “For example, we have a build ing that’s owned by the tax payers that have subsidized leases . . . in a cultural centre competing with businesses in the downtown core."

There is a restaurant, a deli, a liquor store and other businesses operating in Alderney Landing, Mr. Olive said.

“It makes sense, if that’s what they have to do to make the place run," he said. “To operate the cultural side of it, then they had to do that. The question you have to ask your self is, though, how do we better utilize the building for its original purpose?"

But Bea MacGregor, execu tive director of Alderney Land ing, argues there’s no room at the facility for the Discovery Centre.

“We need more space, not to chop up what we currently have," Ms. MacGregor said. “Basically we’re at maximum capacity. We do have some downtime in January and that’s really about it."

Alderney Landing hosts 400 events a year that attract about 300,000 annually to downtown Dar tmouth, she said.

“It would be completely inaccurate to say that our board is not supportive of having the Discovery Centre on the Dart mouth waterfront," Ms. Mac Gre gor said.

But it wouldn’t fit in Alderney Landing, she said.

“We don’t have enough square footage," Ms. MacGre gor said. “I do not see how this is in the best interest of the tax payers or the community or the downtown to just throw out ev erything that Alder ney Land ing does because Tim Olive thinks it’s a good idea."

But Mr. Olive said it’s up to the city, which owns the facility, not Alderney Landing, to de cide what occupies the build ing.

“HRM makes that decision, not the board of Alderney Land ing," he said.

The city might even be will ing to sell Alderney Landing to the Discovery Centre, Mr. Olive said.

That “would substantially improve (the Discovery Cen tre’s) chance of capital fund raising, plus it would give them a chance to expand that build ing — to really rebuild it to their specifications," he said.

“Dan English, the CAO, has made it very clear that his door is wide open for a proposal from the Discovery Centre. The issue where we became involved was the Discovery Centre wanted all sorts of information on the building, space, costs, the ser vice costs and everything else, and they weren’t getting that information from Alderney Landing."

The Discovery Centre has not approached the city with a plan to move into Alderney Landing, said Shaune MacKinlay, a spokeswoman for the munici pality.

“We’ve asked them for a proposal and there’s been no pro posal forthcoming from them," Ms. MacKinlay said.

It is, however, on the science centre’s radar.

“Alderney Landing is one of our options," said Jill Wagner, the Discovery Centre’s director of business development.

“We’re looking at several lo cations including where we are now. . . . Our current location is still on the table."

The non-profit centre, which attracts more than 80,000 vis itors a year to its present loca tion at Barrington and Sack ville streets, is also looking at Dartmouth Crossing and Nova Scotia Power’s new offices on Lower Water Street, she said.

The three-floor science cen tre now occupies about 2,323 square metres.

Ms. Wagner said the centre could use another 900 to 1,400 square metres of space. The fa cility also needs more parking, she said.

(clambie@herald.ca)




I like the idea of it moving to the Dartmouth waterfront. But taking over all of Alderney Landing is a bit much. That building is already very diverse and well used all year round between the festivals and the plays and the concerts and the market. It would be ashame to just oust all of those uses for the Discovery Centre.

[hfx_chris]

I like Alderney Landing exactly the way it is. It would be a huge shame to screw around with it's got right now.

[kph06]

The house on Queen Street behind Starbucks was torn down today. It's owned by Mickey McDonald, this site was often speculated as the site for the downtown Chickenburger.

[-Harlington-]

Recreational improvements announced for HRM
Wanderers Grounds field house to get $900,000 in upgrades
By DAVID JACKSON Provincial Reporter
Mon. Dec 14 - 12:26 PM

Halifax rugby players will soon have a better spot to change than the parking lot or sidelines.

The Wanderers Grounds field house is getting $900,000 in upgrades. Halifax Regional Municipality will contribute $400,000, the federal government $300,000, and the Wanderers Amateur Athletic Club $200,000.
The project was one of 23 recreational facility improvements for Halifax Regional Municipality announced this morning by Defence Minister Peter MacKay, also the minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly.

The Bedford Lions Club’s 25-metre outdoor pool and its smaller splash pool will get $480,000 in work, with $320,000 in municipal money and $160,000 in federal cash.

There are also 21 tennis, basketball, and hockey courts across the municipality that will be improved. There’s $500,000 in municipal cash and $250,000 federal money for that work.

The $710,000 in federal cash is from the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program.

[BravoZulu]

The house on Queen Street behind Starbucks was torn down today. It's owned by Mickey McDonald, this site was often speculated as the site for the downtown Chickenburger.

It's funny I walked by there the other day and was wonder what was going to happen to that place, It was all deserted and there was frost on the windows, I was thinking maybe it would be renovated for retail or something. Two days later it is completely gone.

[Dmajackson]

The house on Queen Street behind Starbucks was torn down today. It's owned by Mickey McDonald, this site was often speculated as the site for the downtown Chickenburger.

Good to hear. Maybe now Bedford roads won't be clogged with weekend drivers all heading to the same place. :P

[hfx_chris]

I never liked the Chickenburger anyway.

[BravoZulu]

I never liked the Chickenburger anyway.

Poor Chickenburger! :D

[Dmajackson]

I never liked the Chickenburger anyway.

Me too.

I live 5 minutes away but have only eaten there a handful of times. I like their cheeseburgers but I'd much rather eat Subway or Wendy's (both right next door).

[-Harlington-]

i like chickenburger, but even if you dont
you have to admitt they make some @$#%in good milkshakes ahah

[hfx_chris]

...you have to admitt they make some @$#%in good milkshakes ahah
Okay, I'll concede that one :D

[sdm]

Recreational improvements announced for HRM
Wanderers Grounds field house to get $900,000 in upgrades
By DAVID JACKSON Provincial Reporter
Mon. Dec 14 - 12:26 PM

Halifax rugby players will soon have a better spot to change than the parking lot or sidelines.

The Wanderers Grounds field house is getting $900,000 in upgrades. Halifax Regional Municipality will contribute $400,000, the federal government $300,000, and the Wanderers Amateur Athletic Club $200,000.
The project was one of 23 recreational facility improvements for Halifax Regional Municipality announced this morning by Defence Minister Peter MacKay, also the minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly.

The Bedford Lions Club’s 25-metre outdoor pool and its smaller splash pool will get $480,000 in work, with $320,000 in municipal money and $160,000 in federal cash.

There are also 21 tennis, basketball, and hockey courts across the municipality that will be improved. There’s $500,000 in municipal cash and $250,000 federal money for that work.

The $710,000 in federal cash is from the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program.

[sdm]

900k on a fieldhouse? of which the city is forkin over 400k of the total.

[terrynorthend]

Recreational improvements announced for HRM
Wanderers Grounds field house to get $900,000 in upgrades
By DAVID JACKSON Provincial Reporter
Mon. Dec 14 - 12:26 PM

Halifax rugby players will soon have a better spot to change than the parking lot or sidelines.

The Wanderers Grounds field house is getting $900,000 in upgrades. Halifax Regional Municipality will contribute $400,000, the federal government $300,000, and the Wanderers Amateur Athletic Club $200,000.
The project was one of 23 recreational facility improvements for Halifax Regional Municipality announced this morning by Defence Minister Peter MacKay, also the minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly.


Well this definitively takes Wanderer's Grounds off the fantasy stadium table.

[sdm]

Well this definitively takes Wanderer's Grounds off the fantasy stadium table.

LOL

who wants to break the news to fenwick16?

[sdm]

The house on Queen Street behind Starbucks was torn down today. It's owned by Mickey McDonald, this site was often speculated as the site for the downtown Chickenburger.

News out in allnovascotia to confirm your thoughts, new chicken burger location.

[worldlyhaligonian]

They will probably do well in there and I like the infill for that part of the block. Its hard to get a decent burger on SGR around there IMO.

[fenwick16]

LOL

who wants to break the news to fenwick16?

Yes this rules this out. However, I can see that it is for the best. Some parts of Halifax are better not developed.

[someone123]

That's interesting news. I partly grew up near Bedford (then briefly worked there) and went to Chickenburger pretty frequently. I wonder what the new restaurant will look like? It would be cool if it had an open ground floor in the summer like the Bedford one.

Funny how there's also the two Pete's and Il Mercato locations.

[Dmajackson]

That's interesting news. I partly grew up near Bedford (then briefly worked there) and went to Chickenburger pretty frequently. I wonder what the new restaurant will look like? It would be cool if it had an open ground floor in the summer like the Bedford one.

Funny how there's also the two Pete's and Il Mercato locations.

Well what can we say? Entrenpeneurs love Bedford :yes:

And since certain people *cough* Sloane *cough* don't like to venture out of their neighbourhoods second locations downtown are required.

[Keith P.]

And since certain people *cough* Sloane *cough* don't like to venture out of their neighbourhoods second locations downtown are required.

I don't think there are any govt social programs that subsidize the purchase of automobiles like there are for houses, so Sloane probably doesn't have a car to take her to Bedford.

[BravoZulu]

In other waterfront news, a tender is slated to be issued today looking for companies to construct 60 metres of boardwalk along the harbour, just south of Bishop’s Landing. The project will cost an estimated $100,000.

"It’s what we call Cunard Inlet," Mr. MacLean said. "It’s the last piece of boardwalk on the Halifax boardwalk that remains unfinished."

A waterfront spot is also coming open to develop what’s now a parking lot just west of that section of boardwalk.

"Bishop’s Landing has been a terrific development," Mr. MacLean said. "Now with Nova Scotia Power doing their work on the other side of the slot (on a headquarters building now under renovation) together with the fact that HRM by Design has been approved and is in place, it’s the perfect time to take a look at that property and say what’s the right type of development that should take place there."

The development should be a mix of business and residential, he said.

"It can go higher certainly than (the five-storey) Bishop’s Landing because it’s not in the middle of one of the view planes from Citadel Hill," Mr. MacLean said.

The Waterfront Development Corp. is also looking for proposals from companies that want to run kiosks on the boardwalk.

"I think there are about five of them or so," Mr. MacLean said. "We could go as high as 20."

from todays Herald

[JET]

News out in allnovascotia to confirm your thoughts, new chicken burger location.

Drop-in centre loses its spot

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1158077.html

[DigitalNinja]

Me too.

I live 5 minutes away but have only eaten there a handful of times. I like their cheeseburgers but I'd much rather eat Subway or Wendy's (both right next door).

I"ve gotten food poisoning from both subway and Wendy's Chicken burger is the only one of those three that I didn't.

[someone123]

I'm back in town for the holidays. Gottingen looks like it is doing much better these days; it's still clearly "in transition", but there's way more happening than I have ever seen before. The Theatre Lofts and the townhouse development on the old Sobeys site will hugely change the feel of the street. There's also that new three storey building with some sort of metal exterior cladding which is the kind of small-scale project that can tie everything together on a street like that.

Hopefully we'll also see something done with the old one-storey recycling/junk depot. It could easily become another Theatre Lofts style building.

Barrington, on the other hand, seems like it is going downhill. There are projects in the works but for now it's the same old story. Very little has materialized there in recent memory.

[phrenic]

Hopefully we'll also see something done with the old one-storey recycling/junk depot. It could easily become another Theatre Lofts style building.

This place (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Gottingen+St,+Halifax,+Halifax+County,+Nova+Scotia,+Canada&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.956293,114.169922&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FfFkqQIdhbU1_A&split=0&hq=&hnear=Gottingen+St,+Halifax,+Halifax+County,+Nova+Scotia,+Canada&ll=44.652917,-63.584704&spn=0.010823,0.027874&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=44.652992,-63.584802&panoid=tvHjn5xtNHo5XKq87N87ag&cbp=12,51.37,,0,0.75)?, supposedly it was bought by a developer and its just a matter of time before it becomes slated for condos.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

I'm back in town for the holidays. Gottingen looks like it is doing much better these days; it's still clearly "in transition", but there's way more happening than I have ever seen before. The Theatre Lofts and the townhouse development on the old Sobeys site will hugely change the feel of the street. There's also that new three storey building with some sort of metal exterior cladding which is the kind of small-scale project that can tie everything together on a street like that.

Hopefully we'll also see something done with the old one-storey recycling/junk depot. It could easily become another Theatre Lofts style building.

Barrington, on the other hand, seems like it is going downhill. There are projects in the works but for now it's the same old story. Very little has materialized there in recent memory.

Are the townhomes on the Sobey's lot under construction or scheduled to be under construction? Same question about theatre lofts.

I've optimistically thought that Barrington's current slide is temporary, due to things like renovations and leases running out, waiting for HRMbyDesign and the Barrington Street Historic District, etc. It's never been a particularly strong street for years now, but four years ago was in much better shape. The next year or two we show if I'm right or if the slide is more serious.

[spaustin]

Are the townhomes on the Sobey's lot under construction or scheduled to be under construction? Same question about theatre lofts.

I've optimistically thought that Barrington's current slide is temporary, due to things like renovations and leases running out, waiting for HRMbyDesign and the Barrington Street Historic District, etc. It's never been a particularly strong street for years now, but four years ago was in much better shape. The next year or two we show if I'm right or if the slide is more serious.

My thoughts too. Certainly Starfish is set to really change the middle of the street. It'll probably make the whole area even more unpleasent in the short-term since the Roy will be coming down and the Sam's and Gingers will be under renovation (tough to say which they'll do first or if they'll go for both at the same time). I would point out that the street did have one success this year, the renovation of the Free Mason's Hall is nearly complete if it isn't already. That's at least one property that has finished the year better than when it started.

[someone123]

This place (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Gottingen+St,+Halifax,+Halifax+County,+Nova+Scotia,+Canada&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.956293,114.169922&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FfFkqQIdhbU1_A&split=0&hq=&hnear=Gottingen+St,+Halifax,+Halifax+County,+Nova+Scotia,+Canada&ll=44.652917,-63.584704&spn=0.010823,0.027874&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=44.652992,-63.584802&panoid=tvHjn5xtNHo5XKq87N87ag&cbp=12,51.37,,0,0.75)?, supposedly it was bought by a developer and its just a matter of time before it becomes slated for condos.

Yep, that's the one.

The Theatre Lofts are under construction - I saw them excavating the other day. The townhouses are not under construction as far as I know but there is a sign up now.

I would like to think that Barrington will get better but the reality is that it has really gone downhill. Peep Show is closing soon and I noticed that other places like Frozen Ocean have also disappeared. None of these are in buildings slated for any particular work. In fact, the Peep Show building was newly renovated a few years ago.

It is good to see the renovation of the Freemasons' Building on Barrington but I'm not sure that really counts as a step forward. There are maybe 50 historic commercial buildings along that stretch and in order for them to stay in good condition (or whatever condition they are in) at least a few of them need work every year.

The other thing that is a little disconcerting is that none of the projects for that area have actually materialized. I think the United Gulf towers would have brought in a lot of new business, for example, but that's still a giant empty pit in the heart of the city.

The one thing that makes me optimistic here is that the Barrington Street situation is obviously artificial. The rest of the city is doing fine. The North End and Spring Garden Road have been improving by leaps and bounds. Most other areas are also either stable or slowly improving. I've noticed that even a lot of little neighbourhoods seem to be improving and are supporting more businesses. The area around Windsor/Almon is a good example of this.

All I can say is that I hope we see some real investment in Barrington Street over the next year or two because if it does not happen the street will continue to slide. Right now it's terrible, probably about half empty.

[worldlyhaligonian]

I think with the completion of the Trillium the area will be busier... we need more residential downtown.

[kph06]

Source: The Chronicle Herald (http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1159761.html)

Downtown projects in works
Expansion of TD office tower among Halifax building plans

By CHRIS LAMBIE Business Editor
Tue. Dec 29 - 4:45 AM

Barrington Street is on the cusp of several major construction projects that could transform it from what sometimes seems like a ghost town into a bustling city centre.

The owner of the TD building plans to double the size of the downtown office complex, Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly said Monday.

"I think it would be great," Mr. Kelly said.

"It would be class A space. And there is an increased demand for the space, especially with the financial service sector that’s been increasing here. It will certainly bode well for that niche."

The 18-storey building is located on Barrington at the north corner of George Street. The 73-metre building is owned by TDB Halifax Holdings Ltd. The company’s president, Farhad Vladi, is a well-known broker who deals in renting and selling islands worldwide. He has offices in Halifax and Germany. Calls to both offices went unreturned Monday.

The TD building now only occupies half the block between Barrington and Granville streets, said Andy Fillmore, the city’s urban designer.

The east side of the building doesn’t have any windows, he said.

"It’s just a sort of blank, unappealing wall," Mr. Fillmore said. "It was built that way for fire code reasons on the speculation that eventually somebody would eventually build something above the other half of the block."

The owner is going to take advantage of the fact that the glass curtain walls on the existing TD building are at the end of their useful life and need to be replaced, he said.

"They’re going to basically build the other half of the building. So it’s essentially doubling the size of each floor plate," Mr. Fillmore said.

"All that mirrored glass will be replaced by clear glass."

The project will re-create the historic façade of the Kelly luggage building demolished about 18 months ago, he said.

"They’re going to keep the façade of the currently existing flower shop that’s just to the north of the vacant lot, and then they’re going to build behind and above those. In other words, they’re going to be maintaining and even re-creating the historic feel of Granville Street in that area, and then the upper storeys will step back from that."

There’s also whispering that the former NFB building that’s now a facade being held up by steel girders could soon be undergoing construction.

In other downtown development news, the mayor said Lou Reznick is looking at installing a boutique hotel in one of his Barrington Street properties. Mr. Reznick’s company, Starfish Properties, owns the Sam the Record Man buildings, as well as the former Granite Brewery building next door.

"I never comment on tenants; we just want to get our permits approved and get on with construction," Mr. Reznick said in an interview from Toronto.

The work on the three buildings, which Starfish dubs East Space, is moving forward under the new HRM by Design guidelines.

"We should be in front of the design review committee by January or February," Mr. Reznick said.

Chris Galea, a St. Francis Xavier business professor who heads a group of private investors from Ontario, said he has approached Mr. Reznick about the idea of opening a micro boutique hotel in one of his Barrington Street properties.

"As a business model and a place to go, it would be a fantastic spot," Mr. Galea said, noting he’s also looked at other downtown properties for the project.

"It’s a growing phenomenon in Europe where hotels are springing up that are very high-end, but they’ve got very small rooms," Mr. Galea said in a telephone interview from Antigonish.

"Think more like a cabin on a high-end sailboat as opposed to a big, sprawling room. What you save on space costs, both in capital costs and in running the hotel, you end up putting into very good quality in the rooms. But you’re able to offer the rooms at a much more reasonable rate than rooms in a similar location with the same level of amenities."

The standard North American hotel room is around 320 square feet, he said. "We’re talking about rooms of around 100 or 125 square feet," said Mr. Galea, who runs his own hospitality company, South Side Vacations Inc., which rents vacation properties.

The size of the hotel could be adjusted to fit into an existing building, he said.

"Anywhere from a 50- to a 100-room hotel would certainly fit into our business projections," Mr. Galea said.

Mr. Reznick will capitalize on the new heritage grants and incentive program to renovate the facades of the three buildings, said the city’s urban designer.

"He’s tapping in substantially to the new grants program as part of the Barrington Street heritage conservation district," Mr. Fillmore said. "He’s going to be like the poster child for the efficacy of the conservation district."

Two rooftop storeys will be squeezed on to the three existing buildings, he said.

"Those are going to be stepped back significantly and they’re going to be contemporary in design."

Starfish is also planning to tear down the Roy building and re-create the Barrington facade with a 17-storey tower behind it on Granville, Mr. Fillmore said.

( clambie@herald.ca)

[Jonovision]

Great news about the TD tower! I was hoping this would eventually happen. Although, I am slightly sad to see the mirrored glass go. As far as glass facades go in Halifax it is probably one of my favorites. The reflections on a nice clear day are superb.

I also hope that they add some sort of crown or something onto the top of the tower. When viewed from a distance this tower is right in the middle of the downtown and would look great with something on top. I was thinking something along the lines of the crown on The Melville in Vancouver.



And just on a side note I took a nice walk last night around town and I went down by Pier 21. The area is looking really sharp. Breakhouse Design has finished their renovations and have a cool lighted feature on the building. And also a new piazza of sorts has been built in front of the museum. It has all the provincial crests embedded into the paving stones. Next time I'm down there with my camera I'll snap some pics.

[-Harlington-]

yeh, that is good about the TD tower it has to be one of the thinest looking towers in halifax. although i would also like to see the mirror glass stay not only does it look good on a nice day but when the fireworks are going at the grand parade it looks fantastic.
but all and all the stuff there doin on barrington seems to be pretty good and hopefully it will look really good in a few years, thank god, it is startin to look like a ghost town in the day.

[fenwick16]

This is great news about the TD building. I always thought that the proportions didn't look right. Also, the fact that they will be keeping the historic look to the street is very good news.

[cormiermax]

This is incredible news! Barington will be so much different in 10 years.

[kph06]

Source: The Chronicle Herald (http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1159986.html)

Second act for old NFB site
Development to mix apartment lofts, commercial space

By CHRIS LAMBIE Business Editor
Wed. Dec 30 - 4:45 AM

The NFB building destroyed by a 1991 fire will rise again in an $8-million project that will create 50 apartments above commercial space on Barrington Street.

Now a facade held up by steel girders, the plan is to construct a building that would be six storeys high on Barrington and five storeys on Argyle Street.

"The bottom line is we are looking to move forward in 2010 and build it," said Chris Tzaneteas, who owns the property with Costa Elles.

Both men are principals of Eat It Two Entertainment, which owns Opa Greek Taverna and The Argyle Bar and Grill. The new building would sit on top of The Argyle.

Mr. Tzaneteas said he’s still talking with the city about how much of the project will be treated as a 15 per cent property tax rebate.

"In our particular case, they’ve drawn a line down the middle of the property and they’ve said that only the portion on Barrington Street qualifies," he said.

Keeping the Barrington façade "adds a tremendous amount of cost to the project," Mr. Tzaneteas said.

"We’re all for it, being from Greek heritage. I think we need to keep our past. There’s no doubt about it. I’m not for knocking the facade down. However, to move forward and to make the project viable and feasible, we would like to see that we qualify for the tax incentive," he said.

"Our hope is that the entire project qualifies under the tax incentive program."

They don’t plan to install a new eatery under their new building.

"There’s enough restaurants in downtown Halifax," Mr. Tzaneteas said. "I think we need some more retail and some other interesting shops as far as the downtown goes. We need another reason for people to come downtown."

On top of those commercial spaces, the plan is to build 50 apartments. Most of them will be one-bedrooms, but there will be some two- and three-bedroom units.

"They will be more urban style, kind of lofty," Mr. Tzaneteas said.

"The young urban person who wants to live in downtown Halifax, I think, is looking for something a little more interesting than just your basic four walls."

Rents should be competitive with other downtown apartments, he said.

The Argyle Bar and Grill, which has been in the same spot for 17 years, will undergo a facelift during the construction project.

"It might have to close for maybe six to eight weeks for its retrofit," Mr. Tzaneteas said.

The developers plan to keep the name of the building.

"It was the NFB building for a long time," Mr. Tzaneteas said. "So it will probably be something like Lofts at the NFB."

He believes there’s hope for a revived Barrington Street.

"I love the downtown core. It’s the heartbeat of the city. A downtown has to be vibrant," Mr. Tzaneteas said.

"For a long time, there was no light at the end of the tunnel. Things just kept getting moved away from downtown and going out to the suburbs. . . . People have got to realize that a vibrant downtown Halifax means a vibrant city in general."

[kph06]

More on the TD building. This is is long overdue and a great project. Hopefully the approval process goes through without any delays from opposition. This could probably have it's own thread now.

Source: The Chronicle Herald (http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1159868.html)

Let the building begin, developer says

By CHRIS LAMBIE Business Editor
Wed. Dec 30 - 4:45 AM

The president of the company that plans to double the size of the TD building has thrown down the gauntlet with the $20-million project aimed at providing Halifax its first major dollop of new office space in two decades.

The 18-storey building located on Barrington Street at the north corner of George Street is owned by TDB Halifax Holdings Ltd.

"Everyone has building permits," the company’s president, Farhad Vladi, said Tuesday in a telephone interview from Forsyth Island, off the coast of New Zealand.

He named several local developers who have permits in hand to build new office space.

"But no one really has the guts to start," Mr. Vladi said. "And I guess whoever has the guts will be rewarded."

While Mr. Vladi, a well-known island broker, is president of the company that owns the TD building, he said the equity partner is Gunter Thiel of Switzerland.

"Mr. Thiel, who is the principal, takes the risk, but that’s what you have to do in this kind of environment, otherwise no one starts," he said.

"Someone needs to have the courage and just start. And I am very confident it will be good because Halifax is an excellent location."

Mr. Vladi acknowledges that doubling the size of the TD building, which now occupies half the block between Barrington and Granville streets, will be "a bit easier (than putting up an entirely new structure) because the building already exists and the glass cladding has to be done anyway."

Architect Bill Anwyll said it will cost between $18 million and $20 million to double the size of the building. He’s hoping for approval from the city within three months.

"Then it will be another six months for us to do the working drawings and go to tender," Mr. Anwyll said.

Construction could start as soon as September, he said.

"It’s going to take about a year and a quarter" to build, Mr. Anwyll said.

"Halifax has to, obviously, create some class A office space and this is going to be one of the buildings that is going to help contribute to that," he said.

The TD building’s relatively small existing floor plate can make it difficult to compete with other office buildings, Mr. Anwyll said.

"So people, if they can’t get the floor plate they want, they move into a grade B office, and then they mumble and grumble about how Halifax is the end of the earth and nobody wants to go there because all they’ve got is a bunch of crappy old buildings," he said.

"We’re going to take this building, we’re going to double the size of the floor plate up to a reasonable sort of size. At the same time, we’re going to put in total state-of-the-art, highly efficient mechanical and electrical systems and new cladding on the outside of the building that will make it a whole lot more economical to run. It will essentially be the first decent-sized (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified) building in the Maritimes."

The doubled TD building will have a total of about 208,000 square feet of office space, he said.

No tenants are formally contracted yet, said Robert Richardson, president of Compass Commercial Realty, the building’s property manager.

"We believe there is fairly good appetite given that it will be a LEED-certified building," Mr. Richardson said.

"It’s certainly an attraction for a number of tenants. They do like the fact that it will be very energy efficient and let’s call it, for the lack of a better term, green."

He’s optimistic that the building, which will have a grass roof, won’t be tough to fill.

"There hasn’t been a new building built in Halifax in 20 years," Mr. Richardson said.

"We are . . . confident that we should be able to find quality tenants to take that space."

[Jonovision]

Great news about the NFB building too. I really look forward to seeing the actual design. And I really like that it won't be the generic apartments either. Something a little loftier is definitely appropriate in this location. It's shaping up to be a busy year for development.

This picture was printed in the Chronicle along with the NFB article. Thought you guys would be interested.

http://halifaxchronicle.can.newsmemory.com/newsmemvol1/canada/halifaxchronicle/20091230/ch_pe_12-30-09_c03.pdf.0/img/Image_1.jpg
The most badly damaged parts of the National Film Board building in downtown Halifax were torn down after a 1991 fire.

[fenwick16]

This is excellent news about the NFB building. I saw a film presentation at this building back in 1986. I was sorry to hear that it was so badly damaged by fire. I am looking forward to seeing the renderings of the new renovated building.

The news about the TD tower is great also. There are so many interesting projects in the works for Halifax. It will be nice to see more go ahead.

[terrynorthend]

Yes, should be interesting to see what happens to the TD. I'd love to see some conceptual renderings at least. I may be in the minority here, but I like the TD building as it is. I like its slenderness; it gives it a taller look than it really is, and its a nice balance to its stockier, brickier CIBC neighbour. I love the effect of its mirrored windows and hope this isn't lost in the re-cladding.

If this gets a green light, I hope it spurs other developers to put shovels in the ground. Truthfully, I'd rather see a new building downtown than a horizontal expansion of an existing one. This might take a bite out of potential demand for class A space that could have been fulfilled by International Place or another proposal, making those developers even more cautious about starting.

[JET]

www.halifax.ca/capitaldistrict/.../FINALBARRINGTONPLANPACKAGE.pdf

An interesting read on the history of each of the historic buildings on Barrington St. JET

[-Harlington-]

i also like the TD the way it is, its sleek and the mirrored effect looks great, a new building would be nice but this is still putting more workers into the downtown and more residential comming within the next year or 2 i see this being a great decade for halifax, and finally barrington is starting to see some improvements.

[Empire]

i also like the TD the way it is, its sleek and the mirrored effect looks great, a new building would be nice but this is still putting more workers into the downtown and more residential comming within the next year or 2 i see this being a great decade for halifax, and finally barrington is starting to see some improvements.

I agree, I like TD as a thin mirrored tower. I think the addition would have to be 4fl. higher to give the same height effect. If the original building is to be clear glass what happens to to the mirror section at each floor slab level? Hopefully the new addition will have restaurant space at the top to take advantage of the view.

[BravoZulu]

I agree, I like TD as a thin mirrored tower. I think the addition would have to be 4fl. higher to give the same height effect. If the original building is to be clear glass what happens to to the mirror section at each floor slab level? Hopefully the new addition will have restaurant space at the top to take advantage of the view.

Great suggestion Empire! I was thinking the other day (as I was looking to book a reservation for new years) that there are no restaurants in Halifax that take advantage of the view from the top floor of a building.
I was kind of hoping that International place would have a top floor restaurant if it ever gets built, but TD would be a great location too and likely to happen a little sooner.

As for the NFB this is exactly what barrington needs, get rid of an eyesore and make it into something appealing and finally apts instead of condos which is something I'd like to see a little more of downtown.

[JET]

I was thinking the other day (as I was looking to book a reservation for new years) that there are no restaurants in Halifax that take advantage of the view from the top floor of a building.

Does the Delta Hotel still have the top floor restaurant? Used to be a great view of the harbour. Probably have new years functions. JET

[terrynorthend]

As for the NFB this is exactly what barrington needs, get rid of an eyesore and make it into something appealing and finally apts instead of condos which is something I'd like to see a little more of downtown.

Bravo! BravoZulu. :) Couldn't agree more. Now if they can Do something similar with the Khyber...

[Keith P.]

This picture was printed in the Chronicle along with the NFB article. Thought you guys would be interested.

http://halifaxchronicle.can.newsmemory.com/newsmemvol1/canada/halifaxchronicle/20091230/ch_pe_12-30-09_c03.pdf.0/img/Image_1.jpg
The most badly damaged parts of the National Film Board building in downtown Halifax were torn down after a 1991 fire.


Too bad they didn't finish the job.

Jet, what used to be the top floor resto at the Delta (former Chateau Halifax) was converted to meeting rooms.

[someone123]

I don't really like the cladding on TD. The mirroring effect is somewhat interesting but the quality of the cladding is much worse than what they can do now (either reflective or not). I also dislike the ground floor design of the building. It doesn't feel open to the street.

It's really good to hear about the NFB project again. This has been vaguely talked about for a while and it was awaiting some of the new funding. Barrington needs serious investment. If these new projects end up happening then it may recover very quickly. There's no real reason for it to be as depressed as it is right now - it could be like Spring Garden Road.

[JET]

Happy New Year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRPrTVXfFt8

JET

[planarchy]

Our annual New Year’s look at what’s broken, and how to fix it
by Charlene Davis, Sarah King, Jonathan Linds, Kyle Wells and Mike Gorman
January 7, 2010


Create an emergency shelter

When the harshest winds of winter hit the city, and the streets are buried beneath a blizzard's weight in ice and snow, where can the homeless turn in a pinch for safe and supportive care? Nowhere, since the closure of Pendleton Place, a harm reduction centre that the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services decided to cut funding for last year.

Harm reduction centres are an important part of transient care programs, built to deal with any number of emergencies and difficulties. They offer immediate health care service, a place to escape from the cold and the wind when the temperature drops below safe levels for those sleeping in the streets (and when beds available in standard shelters are quickly grabbed up), and specialized care for anyone dealing with various problems that could disrupt work in a normal shelter, such as struggling against addiction. They're also a place for people who don't quite fit into the mold, such as the transgendered, who may be unwelcome in one instance, and uncomfortable in another.

"There's been quite a gap in continuum since the closure of Pendleton Place," says John Hartling of Community Action on Homelessness. Despite a positive reaction to existing services when they are provided, according to the Health and Homelessness in Halifax report commissioned by CAH, and information that points to mental health problems being much higher among the homeless than once thought, there is "nothing on the horizon" for replacing the closed facility and providing necessary emergency services. —MG

Destroy St. Pat's

It's been over two years since St. Patrick's High School merged with Queen Elizabeth High to become the brand spanking new Citadel High, leaving us with only memories of the former glory of the old St. Pat's. That, and a big ugly dilapidated building on a prime piece of Quinpool Road land.

While plans have been made to turn the old QEH over to its neighbour the QE2, St. Pat's remains as the oversized, underutilized home of the Quinpool Education Centre, and perhaps as a monument to the lessons and rivalries of old.

The city can't do anything with the property until the school district turns it over, but we say bureaucratic red tape be damned! The building is an eyesore, and something needs to be done.

A much-needed multi-million-dollar redesign and rebuilding of Quinpool Road is in the works, promising to bring a fresh look and vitality to the street. But, even so, dumpy old St. Pat's remains at the entrance of the project, pulling the whole plan down. And a couple of new shrubs or other landscaping changes propped up in front of the building isn't going to change that ugly truth.

The education programs currently being held in St. Pat's could be held in a much smaller space and the current building could be replaced, revamped, sold...anything.

Doug Hadley, communication coordinator for the school board, says the district will continue education programs at the building "until such time as we feel there is a more suitable location to host them." So find or build that other location. How? Where? With what money? Whatever. Do it. —KW

Establish an Africville inquiry

Talk about Africville seems tired. It's been almost six years since the United Nations urged Canada to consider reparations for the removal of Africville residents, the closure of their businesses and church and the overall destruction of their community, but all these years later, the wrong hasn't been righted.

And neither the city of Halifax nor the province of Nova Scotia has found it in themselves to issue an official apology. Moreover, for nearly 20 years, politicians have been promising some sort of compensation, or at least to rebuild the church that was bulldozed to the ground in the dead of the night. But still no compensation, and still no church.

Eddie Carvery, whose family was one of the many forced to leave Africville, has been camping off and on at the site of his family's home, 1833 Barrington Street, since the '70s. He's not even asking for compensation at this point. But he is demanding a public inquiry to figure out once and for all what really was behind the relocation of Africville, and to openly and honestly acknowledge the wrong and suggest proper compensation.

Carvery is right. An inquiry is the logical first step, and the very least we can do. —CD

Put a bike lane on Quinpool

This city needs more bike lanes and we all know it. I'm sure having to move out of the way for cyclists to shoot by on the sidewalk is getting as old for them as it is me (a committed hoofer). But it's understandable, if not illegal and dangerous. Cruising along on six or so inches of wet leaf- or snow-covered pavement with side mirrors grazing your arms the whole time can't be enjoyable.

We need bike lanes in a lot of places, but Quinpool Road in particular. This road is notorious among my pedalling friends and it's not hard to see why. It's a main artery with lots of cars on the road and very little room for vehicles of the two-wheeled variety.

Barry Yanchyshyn, senior landscape architect for HRM, says that bike lanes were considered for the redesign of Quinpool Road that's in the works, but the amount of road available simply doesn't allow for them. What the plan offers instead is an extra-wide curb lane that would be shared by both cars and bikes.

We say no. There needs to be a bike lane, somehow, some way. Why not get rid of the street parking? Sure, businesses will be pissed, but the times they are a-changing and hey, cyclists like to shop too. And if you're rethinking the whole street anyway, why not take the plunge and make a major change, lead the way? Here's five or so metres of road being taken up by stagnant cars that could instead be flowing traffic. Environmentally friendly flowing traffic. Seems like a good idea to us. —KW

Replace the free graffiti wall

Two weeks ago, the parking lot at the corner of Lower Water and Morris Streets became the temporary home for the historic Charles Morris building. While that's good news, our problem is the lot has been one of the city's best examples of making the best of a bad thing---transforming an urban eyesore into a creative space. With it goes one of the only forums for spontaneous public expression in the HRM.

Over the last decade or so, grafitti artists have used "the pit" (as it's affectionately known) as a canvas. Though not strictly a legal wall, a tacit agreement with Nova Scotia Power, owner of the lot, has allowed graf writers to do their thing without being harassed by the police.

The moving of the Charles Morris building was accompanied by the filling of the pit. NS Power filled the pit to make the lot level with Lower Water Street. The levelling, says spokesperson David Rodenhiser, was a "neighbourly gesture"---there had been complaints about people drinking and using drugs in the pit, and "unfortunately the folks who had been using the lot responsibly are going to lose out."

Downtown councillor Dawn Sloane says that nefarious doings in the pit are nothing new, but she's let things slide for the sake of the graffiti artists. "I would rather have [grafitti] concentrated in one area than have it all over." It's probably fair to guess that the escalation in complaints might be related to a condo that'll soon be on Hollis and Morris (on the former Charles Morris lot).

Sloane says it'll take a big public stink---a petition with about 250 names would do---to get the city to even think about replacing the wall, especially with fellow councillor Linda Mosher's push for a "graffiti management plan" standing in the way---a plan that doesn't distinguish between street art and vandalism. —JL

Put a crosswalk on Cogswell Street

One of the most dangerous traffic hot spots in the city got a little more hectic this year, with the opening of a park for service dogs---working dogs assisting blind people---at the grassy lot between Rainnie Drive and Cogswell Street, by Centennial Pool.

Problem is, the corner chosen for the park is well-known to be a nightmare for even pedestrians with perfect vision.

To make matters worse, there is not a crosswalk down Cogswell or Rainnie near the park entrance, or anywhere between North Park and Gottingen streets. Residents wishing to use the land have to precariously venture across the road, through traffic coming from all points from the intersection up the street.

Kevin McEachern of HRM Right of Way says that crosswalks are only placed in areas that record a high enough traffic count and low visibility of the pedestrians, and that the strip of Cogswell between Rainnie and Gottigen must, therefore, not be busy enough.

Hogwash, says we. Let's place common sense above the bureaucratic logic, and put a marked crosswalk on Cogswell Street. —MG

Impose a coffee cup tax

Halifax is nothing if not strongly caffeinated. The city seems to have a coffee shop on every corner, much to the delight of its many coffee addicts---and the chagrin of its environmentalists. These dozens of coffee shops not only produce tons of coffee, but tons of disposable cups.

While there are a couple municipalities in the province who accept the cups for compost, Halifax does not. Most disposable cups have a plastic or wax lining to keep them from leaking, making them difficult or impossible to compost and/or recycle.

All these cups are simply going in the trash, and cafes are handing them out left and right with nothing being done to stop the waste.

The City of Toronto proposed last year to either put a high tax on disposable cups, create a deposit-return system similar to that of alcohol bottles or simply ban the cups completely. The proposal was rejected by the Toronto council.

Maggy Burns of the Ecology Action Centre suggests reusable or travel coffee mugs, but she believes the only way to really discourage coffee drinkers from paper is hitting where it hurts---their pockets.

"My recommendation is for the province to put a levy in coffee cups, the same as they've done for plastic water bottles."

Burns says at least the environmentally unfriendly could provide revenue for other ecological programs, or even fund a coffee cup recycling program. At the same time, a tax would discourage people from using disposable cups.

Trident Booksellers & Cafe on Hollis Street has tried a different approach.

The cafe only uses disposables that have a lining made of corn syrup instead of plastic, and are therefore compostable. The plastic lids, however, are still not recyclable, so a couple years ago Trident came up with a fix for that too: It started charging five cents extra for lids and tries to get customers to reuse them.

Manager Janet Shotwell says the most effective deterrent for disposable cup use at the cafe was to stop giving out loyalty stamps for beverages in paper cups (after 10 stamps, the customer gets a free drink)---people began bringing their own reusable cups, just to get the stamp.

But other cafes haven't followed Trident's laudable lead, and the garbage continues to flow. It's time Halifax try to succeed where Toronto failed---we should impose a tax on paper coffee cups. —SK

Provide water in bars

It's true that many places in Halifax are happy to provide customers with as much free tap water as they want, whether they serve that water or provide a pitcher and glasses at the bar, but there are other places that straight-out refuse to give people water unless it's bottled and sold at pretty ludicrous prices.

Let's look to our friends, the Aussies, to learn how to do things better. In New South Wales, the government has a legislation that states: "Free water mandatory." They recognize that at establishments where liquor is sold, it makes sense to allow patrons to have access to tap water.

The legislation says it is necessary for people to have water if they need to take medication or to relieve dehydration. The law also mentions that bottled water often doesn't conform to "reasonable charge" guidelines The legislation also points out that having water accessible is important in slowing down alcohol consumption and preventing dehydration. (And remember, bar owners: the longer it takes people to get wasted, the longer they can stay out and keep buying alcohol, so the more money your establishment will make.)

It's next to impossible to figure out who should be responsible for passing this legislation in Nova Scotia. Each government department suggested someone else to speak to, saying the issue didn't fall under its jurisdiction. But it seems the Department of Alcohol & Gaming should be the ones in charge. Once again, that's how the Aussies did it! —CD

Make street names more visible

Halifax is a difficult city to navigate on many levels, but the undercover street name signs make matters worse.

Tourists and newcomers to the city complain that street names are rarely visible---either they are blocked by overgrown trees or simply not there at all. Busy intersections such as Connaught and Chebucto pose this problem, as well as streets near Dalhousie University where trees are close to the road.

Taso Koutroulakis, deputy traffic authority of the city's Traffic Services, says if people want the problems with signage fixed, they just have to ask. "If there are signs that are missing or damaged or obstructed residents should call the 490 number," he says of the city's request line, 490-4000. "We would look into it and have it corrected."

Koutroulakis says if signs are missing entirely, the only reason would be theft or damage. HRM policy requires a minimum of two signs indicating intersecting streets, but Traffic Services doesn't have the means to drive around checking on the thousands of street signs around the city.

At least, not yet. Koutroulakis says regular checks to make sure signs are visible are in the near future.

"Starting next year there's a program in place where there's staff that are going to be assigned specifically to drive the streets of HRM to note any deficiencies," he explains. "They're tasked to identify any hazards or maintenance problems."

Until then, Koutroulakis advises that any problems with sign visibility be reported to the HRM service request line.

Let's hope these check-ups begin soon--- there's only so much last-minute turning our necks can handle. —SK

Let pubs open on Quinpool Road

It's high time that people should be able to go to Quinpool Road restaurants and have a drink without having to also order food. Thanks to a community plan from 1986 that worried that "lounges" would somehow compromise the neighbourhood, only three places on the street can currently serve booze without serving food: Freeman's and Seasons were grandfathered in, and Athens picked up Quincy's old license, which Quincy's only got after a lengthy application process. Others have been rejected.

Northwest Arm-South End councillor Sue Uteck says two solutions are being batted around: either a site-specific or a general area allowance of lounge licenses on Quinpool. Both Uteck and Connaught councillor Jennifer Watts favour the site-specific option so that there can be more control on hours of operation and public input.

As for public support? "I don't think I have had one negative call yet," says Uteck. "The demographics of Quinpool have changed and people want to be able to go to their local."

Hear, hear. Halifax is in desperate need of neighbourhood pubs and the idea that any enjoyment of a bevvy sans food needs to be relegated to the downtown core is arcane.

Then again, maybe we're wrong. Maybe you get a couple of pubs on Quinpool and the whole street gets burnt to the ground by roving groups of lawless drunkards. Maybe the whole area ends up getting cut off from the rest of the city and all the criminals are sent there and then Kurt Russell shows up and starts kicking ass and taking names.Or maybe people will just be able to go and enjoy a drink after a hard day's work. —KW

Lift the Argyle parking ban

About a month ago the city, without telling anyone, put up signs warning that cars parked in certain spots on Argyle between 12:05am and 8am might get towed. To lose a few parking spots is a big deal in a city where downtown parking is so bad, and the move upset Argyle businesses owners. The city's excuse: the parking ban frees up space for emergency vehicles. The idea is to prevent street brawls such as the one that spilled out from the Dome a few years ago.

The story, via councillor Dawn Sloane, goes like this: Police say douchebags (our word, not theirs) like to roll past bars looking for trouble. When they see their nemeses in line at the club, the douchebags park, rush out and throw down. Cramped parking spaces mean cops can't get there in time to stop any nastiness. That's Halifax for you---can't walk two steps without a gang of street toughs jumping out of their Range Rover to beat you up for no reason.

If the city is so worried about violence, it should focus on prevention instead of enforcement. A late-night bus would kill two birds with one stone: alleviate parking and help clear drunk people out of the troublesome area between Argyle and Pizza Corner. The Coast asked for a boozer bus two years ago. So far, nothing. —JL

Fix the City Hall software

City Hall had new meeting management software installed in 2007 and, ever since, city council meetings have been an embarrassing cascade of dropped votes, microphone cut-offs, lost PowerPoint slides and the Coast reporter busting a gut from laughter.

City clerk Cathy Mellet says the problems with the system have been fixed, but council meetings continue to see operators struggle with the system---due to user error. "The mics are controlled by the mayor, and we are new to being in the chair"---Mellet and her staff have just begun sitting in on council meetings and are adjusting to the new technology.

"It's a new system, different from what we're used to," she says. "We're dealing with a bit of a learning curve." Staff underwent training for the system, and there is a user manual to refer to.

Backman Vidcom is the system's vendor and has installed similar software at other municipalities around the province. Sales manager Daniel O'Malley confirms Mellet's claims that the technology takes some getting used to.

He says councillors using these systems "don't essentially come from technological backgrounds; it's not an easy thing."

We're not buying it. Mellet is an excellent clerk, capable and self-effacing. We can understand that the bumbling mayor might have problems with the on-off switches, but if Mellet and her staff can't operate the software, the problem's not with them---the problem's with the software.

And software salespeople blaming users for the crappy user interface is the ultimate in tacky, don't you think?

Backman Vidcom's contract should be revoked, the company sued for non-compliance and a decent software firm should be contracted to build a working, user-friendly system. —SK

Accept Ontario health cards in bars

This is really irritating to anyone from Ontario who is of legal drinking age and without a driver's licence: Despite the fact that, in terms of giving your birthdate and photo, Ontario health cards are identical to driver's licences, Halifax bars will not let you in based with health cards alone.

"It's really up to the establishment," says Jeremy White, head of investigation at the alcohol and gaming authority.

So if there's no rule, why do Halifax bars categorically deny health cards? As White explains, Halifax bars' main reference is The ID Checking Guide. Made by a Californian company, the book lists driver's licences from every province and US state, and nothing else.

So Halifax bars: why not exercise some autonomy and allow lazy Ontarians to get their drink on? —JL

Drain the Common paths

Before being developed into Canada's oldest city park and Halifax's most prominent green space, the Halifax Common was a swamp. Some might argue it still is.

The North Common especially is essentially a big, sometimes grassy, sometimes muddy bowl. And what sits in the middle of that bowl? A nicely paved footpath. Or a lake, depending on the weather.

After a good rain fall or snow melt there are sections of the footpath that force you to either get soaked as you wade through their murky depths or attempt a risky portage through the muddy swamps that surround them.

Peter Bigelow, HRM real property manager, says the city is aware of the problem and he jokingly dubs it a "nice, natural skating rink," referring to the state of these water obstacles during a freeze. The issue is in discussion, he assures, and plans have been proposed for either more drainage or new, wider, less-floody footpaths.

Yes, good. Both please. And maybe before next winter. My shoes will thank you. —KW

[Dmajackson]

HRM Starts Alderney 5 Geothermal Cold Energy Storage System

(Wednesday, January 6, 2010) - The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) has started operating the geothermal cold energy storage system as part of the Alderney 5 Energy Project. The project uses natural gas, efficiency strategies and leading edge geothermal technology. It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 900 tonnes per year.

Currently the cold energy storage system is charging. In the spring, it will be used to provide air conditioning to municipal buildings on the Dartmouth waterfront.

“Alderney 5, the only system of its kind in the world, has the potential to produce significant operating and capital cost savings,” said Mayor Peter Kelly. “Already the project has resulted in savings of $350,000 in energy costs and is contributing to Council’s commitment to meet a 20 per cent greenhouse gas reduction target by 2012.”

HRM now has more geothermal systems than anywhere else in Atlantic Canada. The lessons learned with this project have been a catalyst to understand and operate other geothermal systems. Community centres in East Dartmouth, Fall River and Prospect also use geothermal technology.

“In Alderney 5's case, with the pending phase-out of CFC-based air conditioning and increasing demand for air conditioning, this technology is a prime example of how sustainable, integrated energy solutions can be used to reduce carbon cost effectively,” said Julian Boyle, project
manager.

The underground thermal energy storage (UTES) system was constructed by drilling 80 holes, each 500 feet deep and coupling it with a seawater cooling system. Cold energy will be harvested during the winter months and stored underground in the rock mass via borehole heat exchangers.

100

City seeks public opinion for Common upgrades
Halifax News Net
By Lindsay Jones – The Weekly News

City hall is moving ahead on a years-old plan to spruce up the north section of the Halifax Common.
The proposal to fix up the public green space includes new lights, the construction of an amphitheatre, benches, widened walkways and retrofitting the fountain.
A presentation of the plan will be made to members of Peninsula Community Council on Jan. 19. City hall has invited the public to attend an open house to learn more about the proposal Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. at Citadel High.
Downtown Coun. Dawn Sloane said the thought behind the meeting is to gauge public response.
“I think it’s pretty important. Everybody has been wanting to see what we’re going to do with the Common and I think it’s all positive, but people should come out to see at the meeting,” Sloane said.
“We want to share it with the public, let them take a look at it, get their thoughts on it and move forward.”
She said she believes the proposal includes installing lights similar to the old-style ones in the Public Gardens.
“It will give the place a little more character because nobody plays ball after dark on the Commons,” Sloane said.
Benches would be put in around the perimeter of the park and near the fountain. Sloane said that should please many of the seniors who walk in the park and have been asking for places where they can sit and rest.
The fountain would be upgraded and the surrounding fencing removed.
Sloane said the widened walkways will allow more than one type of active transportation at a time. “So people can actually jog and have baby carriages passing each other at the same time,” she said. “So you don’t have that ‘Oh I got to get over on the grass so this person can get by.’”
The proposal also includes removing the number six ball diamond where The Rolling Stones performed in 2006 to build an amphitheatre.
Sloane said the city has been working on the project for many years, but it took a backseat recently while staff worked on HRM by Design and a few other projects.
Peter McCurdy of the Friends of the Halifax Common community group said the upcoming public meeting should be focused on hearing from the public on what they want done to the park, rather than the city proposing its plan.
“I would like to see a truly democratic process happen, where people who particularly live around it and use it on a regular basis, are featured,” he said.
While he applauded the beautification aspects of the proposal, he said widening the walkways will create a “little bit of a paving paradise,” that will allow vehicles more accessibility to the park.
McCurdy questioned whether the proposed improvements are for the people or as a means to hold more rock concerts.
“They’re turning it from a natural, spontaneous place to more of an orchestrated, business-oriented approach,” McCurdy said. “There’s a little bit of good, but in the back of their mind are rock concerts.”
ljones@hfxnews.ca

[fenwick16]

This sounds like an interesting project. The Halifax Commons could certainly use some benches, lights and landscaping to make it a more pleasant area. It could be a bit more like the Public Gardens.

[terrynorthend]

How about an amphitheater that can also be used for Canadian football. A sunken bowl with the excavated ground piled around it to form a bowl for football and concerts? If the amphitheater goes ahead without an option for football then this is one less use for a football stadium. So if the two cannot be combined then there is a good chance that this will make a football stadium redundant and there will be much less use for it.

I don't believe the plans for this Commons amphitheater is nearly as ambitious as it sounds. They are just going to turn the ball diamond closest the Citadel into a plaza, with mains services too for events I believe. This could look and be quite nice. No chance of a "football amphitheater" here and honestly, I wouldn't want CFL right on the Commons.