Skyline Pics of Halifax

[someone123]

Hollis stands out in that it now has two pretty decent stretches, but with that big hole in the middle where Skye and Meridian are being built. In the end if they turn out even semi-okay, the effect will be a much improved and expanded pedestrian experience.

Barrington is effectively "growing" with the new construction and Cogswell. With just a few additions it could be consistently interesting and built up from Inglis to Cogswell, the equivalent of 17 blocks or so (which historically transitioned to Gottingen as part of the same commercial corridor, while the South End part was more residential).

In general the urban core seems to be growing a lot with the new bounds being more like Inglis/Robie/Young.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by someone123

Hollis stands out in that it now has two pretty decent stretches, but with that big hole in the middle where Skye and Meridian are being built. In the end if they turn out even semi-okay, the effect will be a much improved and expanded pedestrian experience.

Barrington is effectively "growing" with the new construction and Cogswell. With just a few additions it could be consistently interesting and built up from Inglis to Cogswell, the equivalent of 17 blocks or so (which historically transitioned to Gottingen as part of the same commercial corridor, while the South End part was more residential).

In general the urban core seems to be growing a lot with the new bounds being more like Inglis/Robie/Young.

Exactly what I was thinking. I'm not sure how 'districts' actually work in Halifax or whether its something technically formal or not, but council would be smart to push the borders of downtown west out to Robie or even Connaught and north and then set clear parameters of where the heritage 'preservation' will occur (their newspeak for areas where heritage structures are both retained, hopefully restored, and no tall/out of character buildings) versus the areas where they can have maximum heights.

It would seem like the Cogswell lands are perfect for our tallest cluster (up to 50 stories or so) and the south end lands should be sorted out for grand home preservation (no vinyl allowed) with shorter new builds in brick and local materials. We can't rely on the 'heritage' crowd to do this... they're often too cheap or not resourceful people. We need a new incentive structure and young heritage carpenters.

[teddifax]

Too bad this isn't a current shot though.

[someone123]

The latest height zoning seems actually quite reasonable. It's not blanket highrise everywhere but there's a lot of zoned space including to Robie. I'd tweak it to be more heritage-oriented (rather than single-family-dwelling-oriented) in downtown-adjacent areas like around Jubilee Rd our south of Inglis. I would preserve areas like the brick housing on Jubilee, but I wouldn't prevent a developer from tearing down small 60's-80's apartments or townhouses to put up narrow/small midrise or highrise buildings. Yes, there is a question of housing for vulnerable residents, but that's handled through tenancy regulations, not trying to stop development.

I think Cogswell is a good point. I dunno about 50 floors or what developers would propose but it seems like a waste to have the ramparts max there. It's just not a very good trade-off and the ideal promoted was always compromised (it's just from some positions, some buildings already were visible, etc.). The view planes actually make sense to protect specific views like George's Island. Cogswell would not be blocking one of those views. I also think that city hall should be trying to create at least 1 landmark building there and 1 public building.

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

This isn't the best skyline pic of Halifax by far but I'm posting it anyway because I think it illustrates well the breadth and layers that Halifax is developing. For many years the best skyline shots of Halifax have been taken from the Dartmouth side of the harbour but that may be changing.

CamCapture by A.J. Forsythe, on Flickr

Pic is a capture of a Halifax webcam

[ArchAficionado]

Once the last few major holes are filled in downtown it will be sweet. The tabletop is such a shame though. It would be wonderful to see some more variety in terms of height and architecture. The feel of a building is not meaningfully different at the street level once it's over 10 stories; it may as well be 100. Don't waste the space above it, never to be used again.

[someone123]

Here are some photos from the coast guard. Click to see more in the original post.



A lot of new buildings and construction sites visible in this one. Halifax is starting to look like a medium-sized city with tall buildings spread out over a wider area.


Source

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by someone123

Here are some photos from the coast guard. Click to see more in the original post.

Cool. Those were just taken yesterday morning. I know the photographer very well.

[someone123]

This one looks good but makes me wonder about the development of the Maxwell's Plum block and the site that was going to be the new art gallery. I wonder what the next big waterfront development or next big cultural building will be.


Source

[Dmajackson]

South Downtown from Seaport (The Olympic, 11Ninety, The Elmwood underway);



North End from Fort Needham (Windsor And Young will have a big impact here);



See my signature for a link to my blog.

[someone123]

Thanks for posting that. It looks like the Elmwood "tower" portion is being built in parts.

Those South End buildings aren't dramatic but I notice there are more and more areas getting transformed with clusters of buildings being built at once where in the past you'd see the odd project here and there. Robie is like this too.

[Antigonish]

It's amazing how much development has been happening in that area over the past 10-15 years. In the 2000s that boxy office building on Young St. stood out like a sore thumb on its own but now is completely dwarfed by the new towers built.

[Dmajackson]

Last week I got stuck in one of the worst bridge traffic jams I've ever experienced so I abandoned my car in Dartmouth and took a Bird escooter home. I grabbed some more skyline photos on my walk back over later that evening. To no one's surprise removing the tolls haven't fixed a thing but at least it's a beautiful walk.





See my signature for a link to my blog.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Thanks for the pics of the Dartmouth side. The cranes give some perspective of how the new buildings will fit into the landscape.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Marlstone fits so well into the Scotia Square cluster!