Development Rumours

[sdm]

Originally Posted by Haliguy

Developer has big plans for downtown Halifax property
Valuable two-block Herald lands being considered for new convention centre
By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Wed. Aug 27 - 6:29 AM



Argyle Developments is mulling three options for the soon-to-be-vacant Chronicle Herald headquarters on Argyle Street in Halifax. The newspaper’s staff are moving to new offices on Joseph Howe Drive at the end of the month. (Eric Wynne / Staff)


The developer that owns the Chronicle Herald property at 1650 Argyle St. is working up three possible scenarios for the large downtown Halifax location.

"We have to have options," said Joe Ramia, a principal with Argyle Developments Inc., in an interview on Tuesday.

One of those options is for a new downtown convention centre, but Mr. Ramia said he needs contingency plans if the convention centre proposal by his group, Rank Inc., isn’t selected by the municipality and the province.

Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly said Tuesday that a decision on a shortlist of convention centre developers will be made in September. Six proposals, including Rank’s, are now being reviewed by a panel of provincial and municipal appointees.

Mr. Ramia said all three plans for the two-block Chronicle Herald property are still being formulated. "We haven’t submitted anything to anybody."

Before the province and the municipality called for proposals to build a new convention centre in March to replace the aging World Trade and Convention Centre, also on Argyle Street, Mr. Ramia had speculated that the downtown site would be home to a mixed commercial-residential development

Argyle Developments bought the Chronicle Herald property in 2007 from the estate of the late cable TV mogul Charles Keating, which had listed it for $15 million. Mr. Keating purchased the property from the Dennis family, owners of The Halifax Herald Ltd., in 2002.

In July, Mr. Ramia bought the nearby Midtown Tavern property on Grafton Street for $1.5 million, after a court battle involving the children of the pub’s former owner, Doug Grant. That purchase, combined with the Chronicle Herald property, gives Argyle Developments one of the largest single pieces of real estate in the downtown core.

The former owners of the Midtown were given a year to operate the bar, but Mr. Ramia said Tuesday that his group could take the property over earlier than that.

Staff at The Chronicle Herald will complete their move from Argyle Street into new offices on Joseph Howe Drive by the end of the month, and Mr. Ramia said his group will take official possession of the downtown property on Oct. 1.

Argyle Developments has a demolition permit for the property, but Mr. Ramia said his firm is still determining the best way to proceed with taking the building down.

"We’re deliberating on how quickly to move on it," he said, confirming that taxes on the property are higher with the building in place.

Mr. Ramia said the structure could be knocked down in stages or imploded. "It’s still up in the air," he said.

( [email protected])

Fluff, fluff, fluff. Pretty much the same thing that was said 3 months ago.

[Jonovision]

I didn't know exactly where to post this. But I found a pdf with a full overview of the recommended facade improvements on Downtown Portland Street in Dartmouth.

http://www.downtowndartmouth.ca/images/Gallery%206%20Recent%20News/Facade/Portland%20Street.pdf

[hfx_chris]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

I didn't know exactly where to post this. But I found a pdf with a full overview of the recommended facade improvements on Downtown Portland Street in Dartmouth.

http://www.downtowndartmouth.ca/images/Gallery%206%20Recent%20News/Facade/Portland%20Street.pdf

Pretty lofty... but I do like the "after" pictures. Would certainly be a huge improvement; although some work has already been done, the building housing Starr Bakery (now Queen of Cups, on pages 91-94 of that pdf), although they didn't follow those guidelines. Does look a hell of a lot better though, than it used to.

[someone123]

Too bad that the Herald redevelopment isn't proceeding more quickly. I personally think the site is poorly suited to a convention centre and doubt that it will be chosen. The best option would simply be some mixed-use buildings of moderate height with ground floor retail and office and residential above.

I hope we are not left with an extra block of empty parking downtown to go along with the still-derelict UG site, empty Roy building, etc.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by hfx_chris

Pretty lofty... but I do like the "after" pictures. Would certainly be a huge improvement; although some work has already been done, the building housing Starr Bakery (now Queen of Cups, on pages 91-94 of that pdf), although they didn't follow those guidelines. Does look a hell of a lot better though, than it used to.

Portland Street needs something other than micromanaged designer facades to improve its fortunes. It seems a very unwise investment of public funds when what is really needed are people living in the area to bring customers to those businesses.

[Wishblade]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Portland Street needs something other than micromanaged designer facades to improve its fortunes. It seems a very unwise investment of public funds when what is really needed are people living in the area to bring customers to those businesses.

And who said that wasn't going to happen? Kings Wharf could change everything for downtown Dartmouth. Founders Corner is just the start of great things for that area in the future.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Wishblade

And who said that wasn't going to happen? Kings Wharf could change everything for downtown Dartmouth. Founders Corner is just the start of great things for that area in the future.

In which case, taxpayer-funded facades won't be needed, which would be great.

I read that document and it just sounds like total overkill. Standards for everything that someone would do to the outside of their building to make it look like some sort of movie-set main street. No thanks.

[Takeo]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I read that document and it just sounds like total overkill. Standards for everything that someone would do to the outside of their building to make it look like some sort of movie-set main street. No thanks.

I haven't seen the plan, so I can't form an opinion on this specific plan, but in principle... I would disagree with you.

Just look at Barrington St. where there are no standards at all. You have all these lovely Heritage buildings, but you'd never know it if you didn't look up because at street level, the facades look horrible. They are clad in horrible corrugated metal (travel cuts... or the cd store beside it?) or a ugly brown aluminum (Roy) or plywood panels (building beside Mason Hall) or painted in hideous neon colors (lunchbox). I'm sorry... I love Freaks Lunchbox as much as anyone else... but what they did to their facade should be criminal. Literally.

Can you imagine someone going into old Quebec City or Boston's Beacon Hill or wherever and painting a beautiful historic building neon pink and purple or whatever?

Again, I haven't seen the plan... so maybe it goes TOO far... but there needs to be SOME kind of standard. Right now it's a free-for-all on what you can do to the facade of an historic building.

[JET]

There was public $ used when the G8 was in Halifax to fix up some storefronts, and some nice work was done. A good investment. Over time Portland St will hopefully improve on it's own, but some public funds will result in better changes sooner. Losing the pawnshops and tattoo palours will also improve the area. JET

[hfx_chris]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

In which case, taxpayer-funded facades won't be needed, which would be great.

You think the storefronts should remain the same as they are today?

Whether they're funded by taxpayers or the building owners themselves I wasn't commenting on, all I said is that the after images in the document linked to above looked a hell of a lot better than the before images. That's all I said.

Why do I always feel like I'm being put on the defensive when you respond to me...

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by hfx_chris

You think the storefronts should remain the same as they are today?

Whether they're funded by taxpayers or the building owners themselves I wasn't commenting on, all I said is that the after images in the document linked to above looked a hell of a lot better than the before images. That's all I said.

And what I said was that the document outlines a set of standards that are ridiculously detailed and that it would not be a wise use of taxpayer dollars. If you have people living there you have customers for those businesses which means an investment will be paid back which means that upgrades would be financed by the property owner, not the taxpayer. Which is the way it should be.

Why do I always feel like I'm being put on the defensive when you respond to me...

Dunno... maybe because you're defensive?

[hfx_chris]

You still can't argue with the notion that if the business owners on Portland decided to do some serious upgrades to their buildings similar to what is proposed in that document, whether it's funded by the taxpayer or themselves, it would look better than it does today.

[Dmajackson]

HRM loses round in old land battle
Case about development’s road coming to a head in October
By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter
Fri. Aug 29 - 5:30 AM

Halifax Regional Municipality has lost a bid to throw out a lawsuit it faces in October — and must pay $1,500 plus taxes for the effort.

The municipality is to pay costs to the lawyer for Olympic International Realty and Paper Mill Lake Developments Ltd., Justice Bob Wright said Thursday in Nova Scotia Supreme Court chambers.

The judge didn’t make any decision on the facts in the case, which is set to go to trial in October.

The main issue is whether the municipality should be ordered to build a road over land belonging to another developer to comply with the terms of a development agreement dating back to the mid-1990s.

The road link is part of a 12-year-old agreement between the old Town of Bedford and Annapolis Basin Group, the original owners of just under 90 hectares of land bordered by the Bicentennial Highway, Moirs Mill, Paper Mill Lake and Hammonds Plains Road.

Back in 1995, "many concerns were raised relating to the potential impact of the proposed development on the residential neighbourhoods and existing municipal infrastructure," says a city staff report written for the local planning advisory committee in 2005.

A clause was added to the agreement stipulating that only 100 houses could be built and that a collector road had to be built out to the Hammonds Plains Road to alleviate the traffic congestion expected to arise from the rest of the development.

But a dozen years later, the collector road is still not built and Annapolis has sold its land holdings to two groups: about 30 hectares in a southwest section to Ali Ahmadi and Paper Mill Lake Developments Ltd. and about 52 hectares on the northeast side to United Gulf Developments Ltd.

Olympic, along with Paper Mill Lake Developments Ltd., still wants to build 325 residential units on its lands near Paper Mill Lake in Bedford.

But while Paper Mill Lake Developments and Olympic International Realty have said they are willing to build the collector road as far as the end of their property at Kearney Run, they can’t compel United Gulf to continue that road the rest of the way to Hammonds Plains Road.

And while Paper Mill has not been able to develop its lands, it alleges that the municipality allowed United Gulf to build a 60-unit condominium building that ties up traffic on the same roads.

Over the past decade the case has come before council committees, quasi-judicial tribunals and the courts.

Municipal lawyer Randall Kinghorn told Justice Wright that the developers have waited too long to seek a remedy through the courts.

"We’re not talking about unsophisticated parties here," he said. "The proper way would be for someone to object in 1997 . . . to challenge HRM’s decision to issue a building permit."

The municipality also argues that the condominium was meant to be a seniors residence, which would be exempt from road restrictions imposed on other developments.

But lawyer Eric Slone told the judge that the municipality’s attempt to get the case thrown out was "oppressive and abusive."

"Just because they woke up to a new arguable defence . . . that shouldn’t be of concern to the court."

Mr. Slone wanted to know why the municipality doesn’t "own up to the fact" that the building it approved is not a seniors complex.

"The city has not been forthright with the public or the developers," he said.

Another Uniter Gulf vs HRM battle. Just for anyone unfamilar with this area its the forest behind Paper Mill Lake (its on your right coming off the Bi-Hi towards Bedford).

[Dmajackson]

Bigger booze store on tap
Former video store to house Quinpool Road outlet
By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Fri. Aug 29 - 6:37 AM

The Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. plans to open a large new outlet at Halifax’s Quinpool Centre in time for Christmas.

"We’re in the process of moving into the old Rogers Video store," corporation spokesman Rick Perkins said in an interview.

For 15 years the corporation has operated a 2,200-square-foot outlet connected to the centre’s Superstore grocery, which is owned by Loblaw Cos. Ltd. But Mr. Perkins said a bigger and better store is needed to meet the demands of the area.

"We had discussions with Loblaws, but Loblaws has its own challenges," he said. "We moved on."

Mr. Perkins said construction tenders have been put out for the new 5,800-square-foot outlet, which will be located between the Quinpool Centre’s Canadian Tire store and its Wendy’s Restaurant. The store, which will feature a contemporary design, is scheduled to open by the end of November.

In recent years, the corporation has leased NSLC outlet locations adjacent to Superstores and Sobeys grocery stores. Mr. Perkins said there are more than 50 such outlets in the province that are almost equally divided between the two grocery giants.

The corporation thought there might have been an opportunity to build a new Quinpool Road store as part of a grocery store development involving the nearby St. Patrick’s High School site. The building became home to the Quinpool Education Centre.

There was talk that a grocery store might be developed on the large Agricola Street lot near North Street which is home to a large stand-alone liquor outlet leased from a private owner, but Mr. Perkins said nothing has come of it.

The liquor corporation operates a number of other freestanding stores in Halifax, including locations on Clyde Street and Doyle Street, site of its Port of Wines outlet.

Mr. Perkins said the corporation would like to combine the Clyde Street outlet with the Doyle Street store to create a premium retail outlet as part of the redevelopment of the old Infirmary lands on Queen Street between Spring Garden Road and Morris Street.

Plans for the large Infirmary site, which has been touted as the location of a new central library, have not been finalized.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Bedford_DJ

Bigger booze store on tap
There was talk that a grocery store might be developed on the large Agricola Street lot near North Street which is home to a large stand-alone liquor outlet leased from a private owner, but Mr. Perkins said nothing has come of it.

That used to be a Dominion Store until they pulled out and the NSLC took over the space. The store is pretty shabby and the area deserves that something be done to that property. With the neighborhood on the way up that is too big a site for the building owner to ignore.

Today marks the last edition of the Chronicle Herald to emanate from their building on Argyle. Here is an interesting pic they posted of the building in 1950:




I love the sign on the roof but even more interesting are the old structures across the street (construction fences in front -- perhaps its about to come down) and adjacent. I am a bit stumped by the old building in the middle of the block next to the Herald because I always thought that the old Argyle Garage was next to it (the story mentions the garage, which was at the corner across from the Carleton -- it operated as a parkade and gas station until the late 60s). I also find this pic interesting because the existing international style of that side of the Herald Building was obviously just a cosmetic refresh only and not original. The original building looks pretty basic.

.

[spaustin]

If memory serves the Canada Permanent Insurance Building was built in 1951 (the modern office building now apartment at Barrington and Sackville) so that construction site across the street would either be the demo of the original building to make way for it or the start of its construction.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by spaustin

If memory serves the Canada Permanent Insurance Building was built in 1951 (the modern office building now apartment at Barrington and Sackville) so that construction site across the street would either be the demo of the original building to make way for it or the start of its construction.

I didn't think you were that old SPA.

[spaustin]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I didn't think you were that old SPA.

haha. Actually 1951 was not one but TWO liftetimes ago for me

[Dmajackson]

I was thinking now with council back in session for the year y dont we make some sort of way to keep track of public hearings/meetings?

I was thinking of maybe having a thread for each hearing in either a new folder dedicated to these or maybe the "general" folder and it can look something like this;

PROJECT NAME | DATE | LOCATION | TIME | MEETING/HEARING/WORKSHOP

Waterside Centre | Sept. 9, 2008 | City Hall | 6:00pm | Hearing

[NorthYorker]

Hey guys,
I was wondering if there are any plans for the parking lot on Lower Water, between Morris and Terminal rd. (the site across from the new NSPower building) Sorry if this topic has been recently discussed, but I usually post on SSC, and clearly their Halifax content is lacking.
Thanks