[Halifax] Skye Halifax (1565 Granville) | 66 m | 2 x 21 fl | U/C

[IanWatson]

Just went through it. It's fixed!

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

Just went through it. It's fixed!

Great news!

[someone123]

There are some project updates going up to December 2025 here:

https://skyehalifax.ca/updates/

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by someone123

There are some project updates going up to December 2025 here:

https://skyehalifax.ca/updates/

This is good to know in the sense that we now have a confirmation the project has actually started beyond site prep.

That site features the funny clock design (which I wouldn't mind). It also includes this line:

"Artist’s renderings shown. Final design subject to change."

[HfxGuy]

As much as this site has taken forever and is finally getting started, I would love to see them submit an amendment for same design just with another 5-10 storeys. I’m not sure the zoning here received a boost from HAF, but you would think it’s possible considering we’re seeing 40 storeys in Dartmouth. They’re not in any viewplanes as far as I can tell so it should really only be limited by the citadel ramparts.

[IanWatson]

Originally Posted by HfxGuy

As much as this site has taken forever and is finally getting started, I would love to see them submit an amendment for same design just with another 5-10 storeys. I’m not sure the zoning here received a boost from HAF, but you would think it’s possible considering we’re seeing 40 storeys in Dartmouth. They’re not in any viewplanes as far as I can tell so it should really only be limited by the citadel ramparts.

HAF amendments didn't touch the Downtown Halifax Plan area. So no increases to hight here unfortunately. There is a viewplane that catches the southwest corner of the site (and goes overtop of Metro Park), but it's already accounted for in the positioning of the south tower.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by HfxGuy

As much as this site has taken forever and is finally getting started, I would love to see them submit an amendment for same design just with another 5-10 storeys. I’m not sure the zoning here received a boost from HAF, but you would think it’s possible considering we’re seeing 40 storeys in Dartmouth. They’re not in any viewplanes as far as I can tell so it should really only be limited by the citadel ramparts.

I hope some height is added to the Cogswell area and that there are some mixed-use landmark buildings there, not just a bunch of 20 storey apartments.

From a street level perspective I think Skye and Meridian will do a lot to fill out that parking lot infested area. I wonder if the new residents will raise demand for storefront retail along Barrington a bit. The "lower" downtown is starting to have a significant population. This wasn't so much the case a decade ago. Businesses mostly had to attract people to the area. There's nothing wrong with downtown drawing in people from outside but it's healthy to have a local base too, which for example will tend to help businesses during the slower periods.

[IanWatson]

Originally Posted by someone123

I hope some height is added to the Cogswell area and that there are some mixed-use landmark buildings there, not just a bunch of 20 storey apartments.

HRM has some massing examples of what could be possible applying the DH Zone or the CEN-2 Zone to Cogswell here.

The big constraint in this case is the Citadel Ramparts rules. Honestly, they need to go.

[OldDartmouthMark]

I hope they keep the clock feature.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

HRM has some massing examples of what could be possible applying the DH Zone or the CEN-2 Zone to Cogswell here.

The big constraint in this case is the Citadel Ramparts rules. Honestly, they need to go.

Thanks for the link. Yes, I am hoping they scrap the ramparts rules or carve out this area. I am not completely sure but I have heard some of the Scotia Square buildings even predate the rules and are visible. It's just not a good trade-off.

It's a separate concern and maybe a stretch but I hope the architecture reflects local context, aesthetics, architecture, geography, and history in a meaningful way. And that eventually there's some memorable public space. Some recent developments like Queen's Marque seem to have managed this to a degree although they all feature stripped-down modernism which at most has some nice materials and public art.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

Thanks for the link. Yes, I am hoping they scrap the ramparts rules or carve out this area. I am not completely sure but I have heard some of the Scotia Square buildings even predate the rules and are visible. It's just not a good trade-off.

It's a separate concern and maybe a stretch but I hope the architecture reflects local context, aesthetics, architecture, geography, and history in a meaningful way. And that eventually there's some memorable public space. Some recent developments like Queen's Marque seem to have managed this to some degree.

Agreed on all points, especially your second paragraph. I honestly don’t hold out a lot of hope that this level of thought and consideration of our history will actually come into play from the City side of things, but maybe a developer or two (perhaps one who has an actual connection to the area over and above it being a place to make money) will feel that it is appropriate enough to put the extra effort (and cost) into it. One can only hope that it doesn’t become a generic looking area that could just as easily be mistaken for Robie Street or Bedford West when all is said and done.