[Halifax] The Marlstone (1871 Albemarle) | 19 FL | U/C

[mleblanc]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

It's not a standout but it's clean, simple, unfussy, and coherent with the mid-century aesthetic of the surrounding buildings and Scotia Square.

Agreed. Decent looking and much needed density, happy to see this finally moving forward. Interesting enough, it's listed as an Active Development on their website slated for a Spring 2023 start, it looks like we may see activity on this site soon?

[IanWatson]

Yes, AllNS has had a couple stories about the new Crombie CEO in the past few days and all the stories have mentioned this being one of three active residential projects for them. It's expected we'll see action on the site imminently.

I agree that the street level at corner is a little unfortunate, but I guess that's the constraint of working with what's there? Overall this seems like a solid project.

Hopefully having something other than service entrances on Albermarle will give the city some incentive to give the streetscape a little love.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

Yes, AllNS has had a couple stories about the new Crombie CEO in the past few days and all the stories have mentioned this being one of three active residential projects for them. It's expected we'll see action on the site imminently.

I agree that the street level at corner is a little unfortunate, but I guess that's the constraint of working with what's there? Overall this seems like a solid project.

Hopefully having something other than service entrances on Albermarle will give the city some incentive to give the streetscape a little love.

Here's the renderings:

https://www.saltwire.com/halifax/new...fax-100854873/

[LikeCranes]

This is on Saltwire. Jen Taplin. May 18 Crombie REIT replacing what seems to be the SS parkade

"Scotia Square developer Crombie REIT recently released images and some details on their big plans for a 291-unit residential building in downtown Halifax..." https://www.saltwire.com/halifax/new...ax-100854873/#

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by LikeCranes

Crombie REIT replacing what seems to be the SS parkade.

No, not the parkade. This is immediately south of the parkade, on top of the mall and west of Duke Tower. Marlstone is the new name. It used to be Westhill on Duke, If you scroll down a few inches on the home page you'll see there's already a thread open under that name.

[LikeCranes]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

No, not the parkade. This is immediately south of the parkade, on top of the mall and west of Duke Tower. Marlstone is the new name. It used to be Westhill on Duke, If you scroll down a few inches on the home page you'll see there's already a thread open under that name.

Oops, my bad. Edit: In my defence it never occurred to me that saltwire would write an article announcing a 'new' proposal that is actually seven years old.

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by LikeCranes

it never occurred to me that saltwire would write an article announcing a 'new' proposal that is actually seven years old.

Hah! Never underestimate what an amateur show Saltwire/the Herald is.

[Dmajackson]

Mixed Use & Commercial Building Permit - New Building - In Review - 1871 ALBEMARLE ST, HALIFAX - $72'876'108 - Mixed Use - Residential & Other Use(s) - Service Use - 291 Units - 20 Floors - This is the Construction of a 19-storey high-rise on top of the existing scotia square building. This will be a concrete building with a window wall exterior. This building will have two levels of parking garage, 291 residential units and residential amenity spaces.

[bartekci]

Edit: Can't delete post, thought the above was referencing another development on Albemarle, but there's only one at this moment, if I am not missing anything.

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by fatscat

Edit: Can't delete post, thought the above was referencing another development on Albemarle, but there's only one at this moment, if I am not missing anything.

There was two threads for the same project. I merged them into the more established thread. Albemarle only has one project.

[someone123]

There was also a story about a new Winners in Scotia Square with its own entrance around Duke Street. I wonder if they will renovate the mall portion while this project is built? Then in a few years when the interchange lands are done maybe there will be some construction projects at the other end.

It'll be interesting to see how this area turns out in a few years. There are some not so great old developments but it'll have more density and pedestrian connectivity (Granville Mall will no longer be a dead end for example). In general the city is growing a lot and there's more wealth and population around the inner areas that could support more vibrancy downtown.

[aga10]

Originally Posted by someone123

There was also a story about a new Winners in Scotia Square with its own entrance around Duke Street. I wonder if they will renovate the mall portion while this project is built? Then in a few years when the interchange lands are done maybe there will be some construction projects at the other end.

It'll be interesting to see how this area turns out in a few years. There are some not so great old developments but it'll have more density and pedestrian connectivity (Granville Mall will no longer be a dead end for example). In general the city is growing a lot and there's more wealth and population around the inner areas that could support more vibrancy downtown.

Granville Mall not being a dead end any longer is a great point. I think it is a very under appreciated and overlooked area of the city. With Armour Group buying Barrington Place, and likely buying the NSCAD portion by the end of the decade, that area will be totally revitalized. You could probably bet on them purchasing Parcel A of the Cogswell Redevelopment plan as well once it hits the market as it is adjacent to Barrington Place. With Armour's reputation, it could make for a great restoration/densification of the area.

[someone123]

The other side of those buildings will change too since they will front onto park space instead of the interchange. They are in so-so shape today with many entrances blocked off and some dull looking paint jobs. The Granville block is one of the nicest historic commercial blocks in Canada.

I was recently in Portugal and despite being a poorer country they do a much better job of maintaining a vastly larger inventory historic buildings. People have their list of excuses for this (Halifax buildings are poorly built somehow, the weather means Halifax can't have old buildings like Montreal or Quebec City, and so on) but I think it's a matter of priorities and understanding the value of the resource. If you take a close look at most heritage buildings in Halifax, even in heritage districts like Barrington, the level of maintenance isn't great.

Anyway, that whole area could be radically different with some tactical improvements to the historic buildings, a nicer public realm, and a couple of new developments that complement the history like Queen's Marque.

There is also Press Block which might have an impact a bit like Queen's Marque, filling some gaps in with complementary infill, although it's not clear yet how it will turn out. One big factor is simply real masonry vs. uglier prefab materials.

[NorthernGreg]

Went by this site on my way down Duke and noticed there were barricades blocking a lane on Albemarle. Looks like construction will commence soon on this site

[Jstaleness]

Originally Posted by NorthernGreg

Went by this site on my way down Duke and noticed there were barricades blocking a lane on Albemarle. Looks like construction will commence soon on this site

Excellent Smithers!

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Mixed Use & Commercial Building Permit - New Building - In Review - 1871 ALBEMARLE ST, HALIFAX - $72'876'108 - Mixed Use - Residential & Other Use(s) - Service Use - 291 Units - 20 Floors - This is the Construction of a 19-storey high-rise on top of the existing scotia square building. This will be a concrete building with a window wall exterior. This building will have two levels of parking garage, 291 residential units and residential amenity spaces.

Building permit was approved this week.

[new2halifax]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Building permit was approved this week.

Looking forward to this one! The area needs it. Any word when they will start working on it?

[someone123]

The crane base has gone in for this one. It's a somewhat unique project as they're building it on the existing tower pad. I wonder how much the pad provides a blank slate vs. dictating the structure, crane placement, and so on. Presumably it'll proceed a lot faster than a project requiring excavation.

[Summerville]

Originally Posted by someone123

The crane base has gone in for this one. It's a somewhat unique project as they're building it on the existing tower pad. I wonder how much the pad provides a blank slate vs. dictating the structure, crane placement, and so on. Presumably it'll proceed a lot faster than a project requiring excavation.

I would say that they are starting from scratch. They have pulled new conduit through the existing roof under what will be the whole footprint for plumbing, electricity, etc, have installed elaborate rebar on top of the roof and have been pouring a huge concrete slab,…I think at least 30cm thick. The crane base is there and will be cemented in during one of the pours

Up to this point, they were underpinning in the existing structure. A lot of that work, which was substantial has occurred out of sight

[Empire]

Originally Posted by Summerville

I would say that they are starting from scratch. They have pulled new conduit through the existing roof under what will be the whole footprint for plumbing, electricity, etc, have installed elaborate rebar on top of the roof and have been pouring a huge concrete slab,…I think at least 30cm thick. The crane base is there and will be cemented in during one of the pours

Up to this point, they were underpinning in the existing structure. A lot of that work, which was substantial has occurred out of sight

I am quite sure the columns and foundation footings were sized for an expansion and additional compressive load. You cannot add 19 floors to a structure that was designed to be 2 floors. Maritime Centre built in structural capacity so that 8 floors were able to be added and this is what should have happened with the existing QEII Health Sciences Centre. Maybe for some new builds extra structural bearing capacity could be written into the development so the building could add additional floors in future?