^Nice pics, both sets. The Narrows has been proposed since 2005, and is finally materializing. I think it is a key area for development.
There is a white wooden building in the last pic (McKees), near the end of the street, which is possibly the second oldest in St. John's (1826). It looks like that one is being renovated too, anyone have any updates on it? It's incredible & tragic that because of the 1892 fire, there's nothing left from the 1700's, and the oldest surviving structures are outside the old city. (I think the oldest one is Powers Court on Signal Hill Rd.)
Here's an interesting link on it:
http://www.historicplaces.ca/visit-v...id=2157&page=1
I also like the 18 Lives one at Rawlins Cross, even though when people say "it's so 90's", they normally mean 1990's, not 1890's.
Also, in the news, St. John's may lose a hospital; I think it would be the Waterford (a.k.a. The Mental), and not St. Clares. All the hospitals need around $170 mil for repairs and upgrades. Link to story:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundlan...hospitals.html
You know, that part of the Grace under demolition is only a few years older than the Health Science Centre - government planning at it's best. Link to a rendering of the Grace when it was complete, more or less:
http://www.davehoddinott.ca/images/G...ceHospital.png
Re: The width of the street at McKees grove - it's most likely wider than normal because there would be extra traffic to the govt. buildings at the end of the street. I also think they should try developments where the parking is at the rear of the units, as in an alley, because the rows of driveways take away from the aesthetics. This is done in many other places where entire cities were planned with alley systems; it gives an unbroken green expanse at the front which is great for landscaping. That would require more snowclearing, but might be worth it.