General Updates and News

[LikesBikes]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Whether you believe this or not, I empathize. Way back on that other thread I was trying to hint in a roundabout way that the best practice is to attempt to ignore the folks that are trying to get under your skin (if that includes me, then so be it), and focus on the discussions that you want to have. That was before your buddy came on to be the hero and it went downhill from there.

Anyhow, enough said.

When people write mean or ill-informed things on here and I see it, I'm going to respond. If that bugs you then you should follow your own advice and move on.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by CryingAutumn

Sure, while Robert Moses led many large infrastructure projects, most of them involved the demolition of neighbourhoods, most of which were racially motivated. I believe building an expressway through Manhattan would've made traffic worse. Even if it may have helped some with traffic, it wouldn't have been worth what we would've lost, both historically and financially.

While The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs isn't perfect, it was written for an audience in the early 1960's. Jane Jacobs couldn't have predicted that historic and dense city centres would be worth a lot and be unaffordable for the average person 50+ years later. Also, Jane Jacobs was an author and activist. You can't really complain that she didn't build as much public housing as Robert Moses considering that wasn't even her job.

There's an odd Robert Moses revisionism going on in some YIMBY circles, it seems. Yeah, the guy built a lot, but the consensus take on him (an over-empowered autocrat who destroyed far more than he created) remains correct. I understand that his era of agressive infrastructure building seems attractive today, when it takes a decade to build a single bike lane, but we risk forgetting what earned him his bad rep. If he had been in charge of Halifax we wouldn't have a waterfront today, just a freeway.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by LikesBikes

When people write mean or ill-informed things on here and I see it, I'm going to respond. If that bugs you then you should follow your own advice and move on.

Sorry, you seem to have misunderstood the intent of my post, and have given me yet another invitation to leave.

Do as you wish, of course. It's your choice.

I now understand the situation a little better, so thanks for that at least.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

There's an odd Robert Moses revisionism going on in some YIMBY circles, it seems. Yeah, the guy built a lot, but the consensus take on him (an over-empowered autocrat who destroyed far more than he created) remains correct. I understand that his era of agressive infrastructure building seems attractive today, when it takes a decade to build a single bike lane, but we risk forgetting what earned him his bad rep. If he had been in charge of Halifax we wouldn't have a waterfront today, just a freeway.

Yes, we were almost there (previously mentioned Harbour Drive project/Cogswell Interchange). Still, the folks in charge with the Stephenson-inspired 'slum clearance' did enough damage as it was.

[Five Four]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Yes, we were almost there (previously mentioned Harbour Drive project/Cogswell Interchange). Still, the folks in charge with the Stephenson-inspired 'slum clearance' did enough damage as it was.

Cogswell interchange

[egb]

Randall Monroe - https://xkcd.com/386/

This place used to be 80% construction news/pictures and 20% trolling, and the past few months its really switched.

Nobody is coming off well in these arguments and if people don't cool this place will die completely.

[GTG_78]

Originally Posted by CryingAutumn

Sure, while Robert Moses led many large infrastructure projects, most of them involved the demolition of neighbourhoods, most of which were racially motivated. I believe building an expressway through Manhattan would've made traffic worse. Even if it may have helped some with traffic, it wouldn't have been worth what we would've lost, both historically and financially.

While The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs isn't perfect, it was written for an audience in the early 1960's. Jane Jacobs couldn't have predicted that historic and dense city centres would be worth a lot and be unaffordable for the average person 50+ years later. Also, Jane Jacobs was an author and activist. You can't really complain that she didn't build as much public housing as Robert Moses considering that wasn't even her job.

No, most of Moses projects did not involve the demolition of neighbourhoods, nor were some of the most significant demolitions racially motivated. Moses certainly held racist beliefs, but he’s been reduced to a caricature by three generations of NIMBYist urban planners.

And I am well aware of Jacobs lack of qualifications - it didn’t stop succeeding generations of urban planners from adopting her tenets. Indeed, Jacobs has been a role model and torch bearer for urban NIMBYs - including in Halifax - to rail against building anything new at the expense of a neighbourhood’s ‘character’.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by egb

Randall Monroe - https://xkcd.com/386/

This place used to be 80% construction news/pictures and 20% trolling, and the past few months its really switched.

Nobody is coming off well in these arguments and if people don't cool this place will die completely.

Don't worry - it ebbs and flows. It was really wild back around 2009-2012.

Legend has it that ryejay is still out there trolling.

To be honest, aside from the odd dust up (generation wars apparently now), it's probably the best its ever been!

[Antigonish]

Originally Posted by ButterNutPecan

One would think that the skyscraper forums would support good urbanism, but it seems it's more akin to diving into facebook comments.

Hey Rookie, this is forum is a reflection of Halifax for better or worse. Having a difference in perspective is really important, even if it can seem infuriating at times. Keith and DartmouthMark are the resident boomers that are allowed to crow and caw from their front porches when the rest of us get too close to walking on their lawn. It's just the way things work here.

Originally Posted by GTG_78

Robert Moses built more infrastructure in a decade than a succession of Jacobs’ admirers and sycophants have done in the past 50 years. Moses also understood the need to scale cities to populations. He also built far more public housing.

I will be Halifax's Robert Moses in the coming years. I will subvert, manipulate, and play competing factions and power hungry council boomers against each other in my favour while slowly usurping power underneath their noses. It starts in Saskatoon for now, but I'll be back soon.

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Don't worry - it ebbs and flows. It was really wild back around 2009-2012.

Legend has it that ryejay is still out there trolling.

To be honest, aside from the odd dust up (generation wars apparently now), it's probably the best its ever been!

Oh god I just had PTSD flashbacks from a decade+ ago. I remember that guy chewed me out to basically threadly harassment because of my stance on HRM's skyline being a "table top" which he refused to acknowledge (I think it started with the convention centre project). Even Keith was coming in from the top ropes at him until he either stopped coming or got banned. Good times.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Antigonish

Hey Rookie, this is forum is a reflection of Halifax for better or worse. Having a difference in perspective is really important, even if it can seem infuriating at times. Keith and DartmouthMark are the resident boomers that are allowed to crow and caw from their front porches when the rest of us get too close to walking on their lawn. It's just the way things work here.



I will be Halifax's Robert Moses in the coming years. I will subvert, manipulate, and play competing factions and power hungry council boomers against each other in my favour while slowly usurping power underneath their noses. It starts in Saskatoon for now, but I'll be back soon.



Oh god I just had PTSD flashbacks from a decade+ ago. I remember that guy chewed me out to basically threadly harassment because of my stance on HRM's skyline being a "table top" which he refused to acknowledge (I think it started with the convention centre project). Even Keith was coming in from the top ropes at him until he either stopped coming or got banned. Good times.

It was a classic era... when Gladstone Ridge and Armoury Square were all we had to hold on to.

Thinking back, it is kind of crazy that the "Twisted Sisters" site will soon be U/C and a there is likely more under construction now than has ever been built!

[Antigonish]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

It was a classic era... when Gladstone Ridge and Armoury Square were all we had to hold on to.

Thinking back, it is kind of crazy that the "Twisted Sisters" site will soon be U/C and a there is likely more under construction now than has ever been built!

Oh man things have changed since then. The one year I lived in Halifax 15 years ago the Trillium project was approved/under construction and I thought it was a miracle ANYTHING was being built. When Gladstone Ridge went up it looked like a turning point but I was back in August 2023 the the developments just in that area of town was enormous.

Hats off to the planning staff quietly getting stuff built after 20 years of nothing

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by LikesBikes

Use big boy words Keith. Why do you have to write like you're a junior high school bully?

Poor fella. Try to stop letting yourself be provoked by every little thing that you disagree with. Which seems like a lot of things.

[LikesBikes]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Poor fella. Try to stop letting yourself be provoked by every little thing that you disagree with. Which seems like a lot of things.

Don’t worry, I don’t think about this enough to say you’re provoking me. I’m just responding to what I see as mean or incorrect posts on here. All in all I’m actually pretty happy with the way things are going on the urbanism front here – lots to be excited about as we fix the mistakes made by previous generations .

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by LikesBikes

All in all I’m actually pretty happy with the way things are going on the urbanism front here – lots to be excited about.

Then how about we talk about that, huh? Let’s give the thread back to those who want to read about actual SSP stuff.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Then how about we talk about that, huh? Let’s give the thread back to those who want to read about actual SSP stuff.

Yes, it would be helpful to expound on the many mistakes being made by the New Urbanists.

[Half-Axed]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

That was before your buddy came on to be the hero and it went downhill from there.

Anyhow, enough said.

I haven’t taken any of the other bait that you’ve tossed out for me in the past few days, but I will this time.

Nobody came in “to be the hero” (yet another of your snide and dismissive mischaracterizations of dissenting opinions). I came in to comment on another fight that had already been going for two or three days between YOU TWO and several other people, supporting one of those people’s statement that this very behaviour is likely why participation seems to be down here.

But somehow in your mind I started the whole thing.

That was fully TWO WEEKS AGO - and you’re STILL AT IT! Yet I haven’t been here in TEN DAYS.

It’s completely one-sided. All you, STILL dragging it out and even bringing my name into another sarcastic comment a day or two ago. (But you accuse others of not being able to let things go…sheesh.)

TWO. FULL. WEEKS!

Say it again.

TWO. FULL. WEEKS!

Originally Posted by egb

Randall Monroe - https://xkcd.com/386/

This place used to be 80% construction news/pictures and 20% trolling, and the past few months its really switched.

Nobody is coming off well in these arguments and if people don't cool this place will die completely.

Yup, this was basically my message (supporting another very similar message) two weeks ago but you’d think I’d kicked a baby by the reaction it got. (I offered more specifics about behaviours (without names), which was probably my mistake.)

The badgering, the name-calling - and, yes, the ageism, the inability to just let people have their opinions without trying to beat them out of them for hours or days on end here is wild, and I know at least two other former regulars have very much stopped participating because of it.

Even for one mostly lurking, not participating (because of…all this), and just coming to read updates - there is so. much. bickering. to wade through on many threads to get to any substance.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Antigonish

Oh man things have changed since then. The one year I lived in Halifax 15 years ago the Trillium project was approved/under construction and I thought it was a miracle ANYTHING was being built. When Gladstone Ridge went up it looked like a turning point but I was back in August 2023 the the developments just in that area of town was enormous.

Hats off to the planning staff quietly getting stuff built after 20 years of nothing

It's actually quite impressive to note... everything seems to be going the right direction now. It's almost like the right policy environment allowed the floodgates to open.

The way I see it: there are "phases" of development, and as much as the 7 story infill seems to be low hanging fruit... it is materializing a suprising amount of density.

I would bet that Halifax and downtown Dartmouth will eventually rival most mid to large size Canadian cities in a short amount of time.

The phases that come next are what is exciting. I'm not expecting "supertalls", but the small lots will be able to make up for things. Imagine some of the lands near the end of Windsor, Kempt, or Robie with mega projects.... and I'm not even talking about the Post Office lands.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Half-Axed

I haven’t taken any of the other bait that you’ve tossed out for me in the past few days, but I will this time.

Nobody came in “to be the hero” (yet another of your snide and dismissive mischaracterizations of dissenting opinions). I came in to comment on another fight that had already been going for two or three days between YOU TWO and several other people, supporting one of those people’s statement that this very behaviour is likely why participation seems to be down here.

But somehow in your mind I started the whole thing.

That was fully TWO WEEKS AGO - and you’re STILL AT IT! Yet I haven’t been here in TEN DAYS.

It’s completely one-sided. All you, STILL dragging it out and even bringing my name into another sarcastic comment a day or two ago. (But you accuse others of not being able to let things go…sheesh.)

TWO. FULL. WEEKS!

Say it again.

TWO. FULL. WEEKS!



Yup, this was basically my message (supporting another very similar message) two weeks ago but you’d think I’d kicked a baby by the reaction it got. (I offered more specifics about behaviours (without names), which was probably my mistake.)

The badgering, the name-calling - and, yes, the ageism, the inability to just let people have their opinions without trying to beat them out of them for hours or days on end here is wild, and I know at least two other former regulars have very much stopped participating because of it.

Even for one mostly lurking, not participating (because of…all this), and just coming to read updates - there is so. much. bickering. to wade through on many threads to get to any substance.

It seems to be driven by three particular individuals who really contribute nothing aside from complaining. Never even seen them post a rendering or photos.

[Half-Axed]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

It's actually quite impressive to note... everything seems to be going the right direction now. It's almost like the right policy environment allowed the floodgates to open.

The way I see it: there are "phases" of development, and as much as the 7 story infill seems to be low hanging fruit... it is materializing a suprising amount of density.

I would bet that Halifax and downtown Dartmouth will eventually rival most mid to large size Canadian cities in a short amount of time.

The phases that come next are what is exciting. I'm not expecting "supertalls", but the small lots will be able to make up for things. Imagine some of the lands near the end of Windsor, Kempt, or Robie with mega projects.... and I'm not even talking about the Post Office lands.

I think you’re right.

The heights of tall buildings and the numbers of tall buildings in cities tend to scale with the size of the cities. And I have long had the impression that a lot of people in Halifax don’t have a very good perspective on how small the city is compared to others that they try to compare it to.

You simply cannot expect 60 story buildings in a city of this size - we are not at that “phase” yet - but I think we are on the verge of the 40-story building “phase”.

These things will happen when the economic case makes sense for developers, and a scan of cities around the world suggests a very strong correlation with the size of the urban area. (And by that I mean, the actual contiguous developed area as per StatsCan, not the massively spread-out, mostly-rural census metropolitan area.)

Unfortunately, the latest population predictions don’t include the urban area, only the Municipality and the CMA, but some simple math based on the last census (and an assumption or two) would suggest that the urban area is likely still somewhat less than 400,000.

With that in mind, Halifax is actually a fairly well-developed city for one of that size. Compares pretty well with London Ontario, which is about 20% bigger.

[Dmajackson]

Two updates from this week I've seen.

1) The blasting permit I posted a few days ago for the Waterfront Warehouse lot has been quietly corrected to being across the street at 1556 Lower Water Street (aka Ralston Building). The tourist trap isn't going anywhere.

2) ANS had an article with a rendering of 2688 ROBIE STREET. The Halcraft Printer building was demolished last week and the new proposal is for 10 FL / 82 Units Mixed-Use. Benigno Group says construction will start in September and they're next project will be at 6450 Quinpool (home of Noodle Nami).