Development Rumours

[someone123]

I guess I will wait until I see the plans to make final judgements but the Roy Building doesn't seem like a good candidate for this kind of thing. It is one of the larger buildings on Barrington to begin with and its facade isn't really built to the right scale, nor is it of a suitable design for putting a 16 storey office building in behind. Already it looks a bit strange since it was built in stages from the 1890s-1910s.

Something like the Discovery Centre building would be a much better candidate. There are also buildings like Carsand Mosher, the Paramount storefront, etc. that are very underdeveloped.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by sdm

The roy building plans call for a 16 storey office building with ground floor retail. Existing building will be taken down with the exception of the roy building facade.

Needless to say HT will be at the meeting. That being said, HT was probably at the meeting for dartmouth crossings amendment to allow 5 stories.....

Won't this go against the proposed Barrington St heritage district?

[spaustin]

Originally Posted by sdm

The roy building plans call for a 16 storey office building with ground floor retail. Existing building will be taken down with the exception of the roy building facade.

Needless to say HT will be at the meeting. That being said, HT was probably at the meeting for dartmouth crossings amendment to allow 5 stories.....

That doesn't sound encouraging at all. I suspect, on this one, HT will have a case. Not every proposal is a good proposal and trashing the Roy Building, a perfectly usuable heritage structure that is already quite big, strikes me as a half-baked idea that the city should pass on. I expected more of Starfish since they have done great work on the other properties they own in the area. I don't think I'll be able to support this one.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by sdm

The roy building plans call for a 16 storey office building with ground floor retail. Existing building will be taken down with the exception of the roy building facade.

Do you have a source for this info?

I find it very surprising given the developer's reputation.

The facade of the Roy Building is in very poor shape. On the Granville St side they had to build the arcade over the sidewalk to protect passersby from falling bits coming off that side of the building. On the Barrington St side the facade looks to be in dire need of cleaning and repair. It is one of those things that makes it hard to tell how good or bad it would look if done.




I understand that the building is not registered as a heritage building so until HRM by Design takes effect such a development application is possible, but I suspect would be met by fierce opposition.

I am of mixed feelings. The building is not iconic architecture by any means and, in fact, was built in 3 stages with designs by at least 2 different architects. It has been modified over the years and certainly is not particularly attractive right now. Keeping the facade makes little sense to me as it seems rather unremarkable anyway. I think you'd almost be better off getting rid of it all and building something brand new that is a heritage replica of something more impressive, though that is a strategy I never usually approve of. In this case it may make sense.

[sdm]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Do you have a source for this info?

I find it very surprising given the developer's reputation.

Straight from HRM meeting notice, with the proposal facts on the backside.

Correct me if i am wrong, but isn't the barrington street district currently a conservation district?

[Takeo]

I'd have to see a plan before taking sides... but it doesn't seem well proportioned for a 16 story tower on top. As for the facade being nothing great... well... I agree... but it has potential. It's difficult to see that potential right now given the horrendous state of the first floor facade and all the crumbling stuff above it.

[Keith P.]

In allnovascotia.com today there was a story on this... it indicated that it was 17 floors and that two adjacent buildings would also be taken out.

I wish I could do a copy/paste on the article but allnovascotia.com has their site locked down so tight that it is impossible.

[spaustin]

CTV news just reported that Emera will officially announce tomorrow that they're going to tear down Electropolis and build their new headquarters on the site.

[Takeo]

Originally Posted by spaustin

CTV news just reported that Emera will officially announce tomorrow that they're going to tear down Electropolis and build their new headquarters on the site.

Great news. I have to say... the amount of development that is in the "hopper" right now is truly unprecedented. It's very exciting!

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

In allnovascotia.com today there was a story on this... it indicated that it was 17 floors and that two adjacent buildings would also be taken out.

I wish I could do a copy/paste on the article but allnovascotia.com has their site locked down so tight that it is impossible.

Yes, I saw that as well. No rendering available.

I'm pretty apprehensive about it, especially when there are 3-4 other office buildings being talked about. I wish they'd just renovate the existing heritage buildings.

[planarchy]

Flurry of projects surprises official

By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter
Thu. Jul 3 - 4:33 AM
Chronicle Herald

Downtown development proposals seem to be cropping up like ants at a summer picnic.

This week saw the unveiling of Louis Resnick’s 16-storey development for his Barrington Street Roy Building property and ECL’s 22-storey proposal for their Granville Street lot.

These are the latest in a recent but long line of new proposals for Halifax’s downtown.

Last week, regional council approved Halkirk’s 21-storey condo for the south side of its Brewery Market property.

Two weeks before, councillors gave the OK to W.M. Fares’ 19-storey residential building for the corner of Brenton and South Park streets.

Coming down the pike are Dexel Developments’ 10-storey commercial/residential building at the corner of Hollis and Morris streets and Ben McCrea’s proposal for the buildings across the street from Historic Properties.

His Armour Group wants to redevelop several of its properties on Hollis, Upper Water and Duke streets to allow for a nine-storey retail/office building with underground parking.

The executive director of the Downtown Halifax Business Commission said he wonders what’s driving all the proposals.

"Are people bringing their applications forward quicker because they fear what HRM by Design is bringing or they just see that the economic climate is better?" Paul MacKinnon said in an interview Wednesday

HRM by Design, a city project to streamline development in the downtown core, has been delayed because the MacDonald government did not push the required legislative changes through its spring session.

As a result, the project is slated to go to the fall session of the House and then to the public hearing process at regional council. It likely won’t be made law until 2009.

Mr. MacKinnon did note that the recent rash of development proposals couldn’t have been "thrown together in a couple of months" to beat the deadline for HRM by Design.

Some, like ECL’s decades-old development agreement, have been on the books for years.

"But it certainly is interesting to note that there is development happening."

[sdm]

News out in Allnovascotia regarding Emera's headquaters.

2011 the project is to be completed, no size details at this time however they currently occupy 150,000 square feet.

Price tag, 50-60 Million dollars and will incorporate the existing structure with a tower on top.

[terrynorthend]

Originally Posted by sdm

Price tag, 50-60 Million dollars and will incorporate the existing structure with a tower on top.

My understanding is it will not change the existing structure's footprint and height at all, they just showed a rendering on CTV, looks nice though..a much better transition to the boardwalk from the seawall.

http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=17151

[sdm]

Originally Posted by terrynorthend

My understanding is it will not change the existing structure's footprint and height at all, they just showed a rendering on CTV, looks nice though..a much better transition to the boardwalk from the seawall.

http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=17151

They changed their plans from what i was told. Nice idea nonetheless.

[phrenic]

Media release:

Nova Scotia Power to create environmentally sustainable waterfront property in Halifax

HALIFAX , July 3, 2008 – Nova Scotia Power will relocate its corporate offices to a new, energy efficient building in 2011. The environmentally sustainable facility will be developed at the site of a former power plant on Lower Water Street in downtown Halifax , the company announced today.

“This rejuvenation of a former generating station will use state-of-the-art practices incorporating energy efficient design, construction and building operation,” said Rob Bennett, President and CEO of Nova Scotia Power. “The new building will provide community-friendly space and will be a sustainable work environment for our employees. This exciting project aligns with community aspirations for development of the Halifax waterfront and the vision articulated through HRMbyDesign.”

Nova Scotia Power's current lease for office space in downtown Halifax expires early in 2011. Development and operation of the new energy efficient office space, on property owned by Nova Scotia Power, is the lowest-cost option for customers, Mr. Bennett said.

He added that the company has consulted with city planners and will continue to ensure that the project is consistent with the community's vision for the future of the Halifax downtown core.

“ This building will achieve the highest possible green building certification and the lowest possible environmental footprint,” Mr. Bennett said. “Creating an environmentally sustainable building on the site of a former power plant is both financially responsible and environmentally friendly.”

"One of the main objectives of the proposed HRMbyDesign plan for downtown Halifax is to encourage sustainability through increased density, use of public transit and green building standards," said HRM Mayor Peter Kelly. "Nova Scotia Power's commitment to achieving LEED standards in their new waterfront building will set a positive example for future new, and redevelopment projects in the downtown."

The new office space is planned to be developed within the height and footprint of the existing structure. Planning and design work is currently under way. Nova Scotia Power will soon file a building permit application with Halifax Regional Municipality and a capital work order with its regulator, the Utility and Review Board. On-site preparation will begin in the fall. Company employees will move into the new space by early 2011.

Lead architect for the project is WZMH Architects. The firm's experience includes sustainable construction practices and innovative design of corporate, institutional and residential projects in Canada , the United States , and around the world.

[Jonovision]

Sounds good. But I'm confused?! Are they building a tower on top or just rebuilding the existing structure?

[terrynorthend]

Looks like just a rebuilding of the existing shell (with extensive landscaping i might add) lots of glass going into it. If you get a chance, you can see it on the six o'clock CTV news for sure..

[worldlyhaligonian]

Looks pretty good from the renderings on the news... Will definitely complement the upcoming Centennial development.

[Jonovision]

I saw it at 6 and it looks quite nice. I always love redevelopments of old concrete monoliths.

[sdm]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Looks pretty good from the renderings on the news... Will definitely complement the upcoming Centennial development.

Add those and queenslanding and the waterfront will become thing we can all be proud of, instead of the vast parking lots.