Quote:
Originally Posted by Drybrain
I'm torn on this. I hate to see well-maintained and attractive Victorian houses go (they aren't an infinitely renewable resource), but Robie is one of the main thoroughfares of the city, and urban development and growth inevitably leads to greater density. The Back Bay comparison doesn't entirely work for me because most of Back Bay is residential streets, and this is a mixed-use main arterial. If there's a comparison to anywhere in Back Bay, it would be Commonwealth Avenue, and, well, look. This is already metropolitan in scale. The Robie buildings are single-family houses. It's hard to compare. |
I think part of the problem is that there are distinct Halifax styles in older buildings but the newer buildings tend to be generic. If the new buildings along Robie somehow expressed these older styles on a bigger scale, maybe with a colourful ornamented podium and tower above, it would be easier to let go of these houses and the final result would be much better. Instead it's a dilemma between pleasant low density wooden houses or characterless boxes.
It's also possible to add "gentle density" while enhancing character by adding floors and traditional detail. There are lots of opportunities for this but it's pretty rare. A street like Agricola would look great if it were mostly 3-4 floor wood apartments with bright colours. It would be nicer than it is now and denser.
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