Development Rumours

[Takeo]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

I wouldn't want to see the building gone, but I like your idea of a fountain for the site.

Oh ya. That building won't go anywhere. Not a chance. Nor should it.

[someone123]

That is disappointing news regarding the library. I agree that mixed uses are important for the area but I think this is a big symptom of an uncreative bureaucracy. It could turn out reasonably well if the corner becomes a decent public space and the rest is developed properly along Queen Street. If a big chunk is just carved off and handed over to the library people for parking spots or whatever then the results will be terrible.

Clyde Street also sounds disappointing. Already they are quite far behind where they should be. There don't seem to be any reasons to explain why they didn't release an RFP for one of the lots in 2006 or so.

The current library building is actually quite nice and it should be possible to find a good use for it.

[Spitfire75]

I just noticed today that they're disassembling the Boston Pizza in Bayer's Lake. Does anyone know what the story is here? Are they just relocating, or closing it?

[someone123]

From the Herald. I figured the Herald lands developer would want the Midtown site:

Midtown sale to be appealed in Halifax court

By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Thu. May 15 - 2:00 PM

A Nova Scotia Supreme Court ruling approving the sale of the Midtown Tavern in downtown Halifax to local developer Joe Ramia for a reported $1.5 million will be appealed.

"It will probably be appealed," said Midtown manager Eric Grant, son of ailing tavern owner Doug Grant, when asked to comment on the court decision allowing the sale of the tavern to Mr. Ramia's group, which controls the adjacent Chronicle Herald lands.

Gordon Rudolph, a Halifax developer who worked with the Grant family on a failed attempt to build a 17-storey complex on the Midtown site a few years ago, plans to appeal the ruling on the grounds that he had a previous investment agreement with Doug Grant.

Mr. Rudolph said he will file an application to have that issue heard by the court and will file an injunction to prevent the transfer of Midtown shares to Mr. Ramia's group.

([email protected])

[Dmajackson]

Midtown has had it tough. First the proposal is rejected, and now they cant even get rid of the land without an appeal

[spaustin]

Ahh the Midtown was one that deserved to get shotdown. Not all projects are good projects and this was one that was really out in right field. Unless the court overturns the sale this potentially makes for a more exciting setup since the developer of the Herald Building will have an interest in building something decent on BOTH sides of the block and not just on Argyle.

[Empire]

The potential for the midtown site is to combine it with the Herald site. It was mentioned some time ago that this combined site could possibly house a new metro centre plus a convention centre if Grafton St. was closed.

[hfx_chris]

I'm not sure if I would be in favor of splitting up more streets to make room for developments; they did it for the current MC and of course we all know about the — known as Scotia Square and Cogswell. That'll just create an orphaned section of Grafton that will need to be renamed just like George Street.

I was quite disappointed when they renamed that section of George to Carmichael Street. Not that I don't think she was worthy of having a street named after her, but of all the streets in Halifax, George Street is one of the more recognizable at least by name; now you can't say the old Town Clock is at the top of George Street; now it's at the top of Carmichael Street.
And did anybody else notice they rather silently renamed the section of Market Street behind Scotia Square? It's a weird name now, I can't even remember what it's called now...

[someone123]

Interesting details involving the Midtown and ultimately the Herald redevelopment: http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1056324.html

If I remember correctly the Herald planned on moving in a matter of months. I wonder how quickly the new development will proceed after that? Anybody know what can be built on the site as-of-right? There have been basically zero details released.

[reddog794]

ignore this, sorry.

[planarchy]

City fails to get bid together for national portrait gallery

By OUR STAFF
Chronicle Herald
Sat. May 17 - 5:12 AM

Halifax Regional Municipality was one of nine cities invited by the federal government to submit a bid for Canada’s national portrait gallery, but Friday’s deadline passed, and metro is not in the running.

Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton (with two proposals) are vying for the project.

Mr. Kelly had said local business operators were trying to get "all their ducks in a row" before promoting a bid from Halifax. He’s said he has met with the proponents.

But metro’s attempt to land the gallery, with its thousands of paintings and prints, is dead. Mr. Kelly said no formal bid ever evolved from his talks with gallery boosters.

"I am aware of three groups that explored the option but I am not aware of any final proposal that has been put forward," the mayor said Friday.

The Harper government killed a plan prepared by the Chretien Liberals to set up the portrait gallery in Ottawa, and last year, created a competition that was open to cities of a certain size.

[Empire]

City fails to get bid together for national portrait gallery

Just another example of what you achieve when you are constantly operating in a reactive mode instead of a proactive mode. I'm sure Peter Kelly is happy the bid is dead as it will mean less thinking and accountability for him.

[spaustin]

Reading the political tea leaves we never had a chance at this anyway. It's a federal decision and right now Atlantic Canada is definitely on the outs. Harper and his team aren't going to send any perks our way anytime soon and Peter McKay has been shown over and over again to be pretty weak. Probably best that we didn't waste our time.

[someone123]

Agreed. Halifax was never in the running.

[sdm]

News out today with regards to a proposed development at the Royal Bank Building as well as expansion of the TD building.

Developer is proposing a 380,000 square foot hotel, convention centre (RFP by Province) and commerical office development. Not sure what happens to the Merril Lynch building on the corner.

If the developer doesn't win the RFP he still wishes to proceed with a 16 storey office/ hotel development on the lands.

The TD building Expansion would see the eastern side of the building expanded and build on the former Kelly's property.

News in ALLNovascotia.com

[spaustin]

Originally Posted by sdm

News out today with regards to a proposed development at the Royal Bank Building as well as expansion of the TD building.

Developer is proposing a 380,000 square foot hotel, convention centre (RFP by Province) and commerical office development. Not sure what happens to the Merril Lynch building on the corner.

If the developer doesn't win the RFP he still wishes to proceed with a 16 storey office/ hotel development on the lands.

The TD building Expansion would see the eastern side of the building expanded and build on the former Kelly's property.

News in ALLNovascotia.com

Interesting. I heard years ago that part of the reason the TD tower's east side is blank is to allow for future expansion. Sounds like they're actually considering proceeding. Healthy sign for the city to see office development again in the urban core.

[Keith P.]

I read that article about the RBC building and it doesn't make sense to me. The developer is talking about a 380,000 sq ft convention center on a lot that is said to be 60,000 sq ft. Given common areas, elevators, etc, you would need 7 or 8 floors to get that amount of space. I can't see a convention center working in that configuration.

I also question the economics of tearing down the existing RBC building to make it a 16-floor structure. If they were talking adding on to the existing structure that would make more sense but I did not see that mentioned.

[someone123]

I don't have access to AllNovaScotia but they have two headlines - one about the conference centre and one about a $400M development ("Farhad Vladi's $400 Million Redevelopment Of Downtown Halifax").

Are these developments all related or are they separate? $400M sounds awfully expensive for anything less than a full-sized office tower. There's also very little land next to TD or the Royal Bank buildings.

Anyway, it's looking like we'll get at least one major office development very soon, which is unsurprising given rents and vacancies.

[hfx_chris]

Wait wait, since when was there plans to tear down the RBC building, and would somebody please explain what's wrong with the building to warrant tearing it down?

[hfx_chris]

Not sure if this was known, but it's the first time I saw it. The old Nova Scotia Power building at the corner of Ochterloney and Maple Streets in Dartmouth is up for sale. Would be nice to get some sort of condo or retail development in that space, it's a fairly large site and right across the street from the Starr factory lands.